Next weekend in Morocco will be a very special one for triple world champion Andy Priaulx, as this will be the first FIA World Touring Car Cup race of the season and the first for him in his Cyan Racing-prepared Lynk & Co 03 TCR. For this he will be teamed up with his old friend and rival Yvan Muller, Yan Ehrlacher, and Thed Björk and he will be carrying 111 as his racing number. Looking forward to this return to touring cars Andy said: “I have some amazing memories of my years in the European and World Touring Car Championships, so I can’t wait to write another chapter in my history in these cars. I know there will be some tough competition for me as the driver line-up is of a very high standard. I shall have to be on the pace from the word go.” Also talking about his number and the design of it he added: “For many years I raced with number 11 on my car and it is now 111, which stands for my three world championships. Also my design has the colour green and this is for Guernsey where I come from.” The 2.971 Circuit Moulay El Hassan is a semi-permanent track in the city of Marrakech, which was transformed from a street circuit in 2016. It has a spectacular backdrop of the Atlas Mountains, and was designed by Herman Tilke, who is famous for the design of many circuits worldwide. Andy has not raced on this particular track, but the city is not new to him, as he explained: “Back in 2010 I raced on the longer street circuit in the WTCC and won there. While this is a totally different track, I will certainly feel at home in a place where I stood on the top step of the podium.” The itinerary for the WTCR Race of Morocco 2019 starts on Saturday, 6th April with free practice 1 from 09.00 to 09.45 and free practice 2 from 11.00 to 11.30. Qualifying is then from 13.00 to 13.40 and the 18-lap first race starts at 16.50. On Sunday there will be a second qualifying that is split into three sections from 11.00 to 11.30, 11.35 to 11.50 and then finally the first car starting at 12.00. Race 2, which is 18 laps, then starts at 16.45 and the 21-lap third race starts at 18.15. All these times are local and an hour ahead of BST.
Image from Cyan Racing.