Moroccan World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) driver Mehdi Bennani will race a Citroën C-Elysée for Sébastien Loeb Racing in 2015, leaving the Proteam Racing outfit after four years.
Bennani, who scored his first WTCC victory in 2015 in Shanghai, experienced numerous reliability problems this year at the wheel of a JAS Motorsport-built Honda Civic TC1. The experienced racer cites the desire to move forward as his reason for making the change.
“My goal is always to move forward,” explained Bennani. “Together with the Citroen C-Elysée, which is the car which won the World Championship, I have the feeling that this project brings together all the elements needed to succeed.
“Sebastien Loeb is a great champion and I discovered his team through its activities in GT and prototype racing. It reflects Sébastien’s image. I am joining his team to go as high as possible!
“After a positive season marked by a personal first victory, the first for Morocco, we have provided a good preparation [for 2015]. I have an ambassadorial role for Morocco and I am ambitious – my ultimate goal is the title. That is my ultimate dream and this commitment with Sebastien Loeb Racing should allow me to get closer to that.
“The excitement in Morocco is increasingly important and I am sure it will be huge in 2015 with the Citroën C-Elysée together with Sébastien Loeb Racing.”
Loeb himself explains the decision has in part come about due to the desire to sign a driver with previous WTCC experience. Bennani has been a mainstay in the championship since the 2010 season, starting 124 races in that time and standing on the podium on six occasions.
“I’ve rubbed shoulders with Mehdi on the circuits in 2014 and I know his competitiveness,” said Loeb. “Mehdi has a very good experience in motorsport and his feedback will be useful to the whole team.
“The team has proven its qualities over the past three years and some of our engineers and mechanics have evolved in the WTCC, so there is a strong desire to do well.
“Mehdi shares the strong values of our team, such as the ambition and the combativeness. This mindset is crucial in such a project.
“He is also an ambassador for Morocco and it’s important for Sébastien Loeb Racing to expand its international image. It is also good for Citroen.”
It is expected that Sébastien Loeb Racing will confirm Chinese racer Ma Qing Hua to partner Bennani in the second of their year-old cars, although no deal has yet been confirmed.