Mehdi Bennani is aiming to fight for victory in Morocco this weekend, as the World Touring Car Championship season kicks off in the home country of the Sébastien Loeb Racing driver.
Moroccan ace Bennani ended the WTCC season in perfect fashion last year, securing a pole position and victory at the Race of Qatar in November.
With the season opener returning to Morocco for the first time in two years, Bennani knows that it will be important for him to deliver a strong performance in front of his home fans.
“It is a strong feeling [to race at home]; it is a big event. This is one of the most important events in Morocco, so of course beautiful things can happen, especially if I can do a good result and fight for victory.
“People expect me to do something good, so there is pressure, but it is good pressure. I prefer to have that kind of pressure than no pressure at all.
“We know that it’s a big challenge to race at this level so every time we need to renew the car, try another set-up. There will be a moment when we are struggling but this is the level of the WTCC.”
Bennani has been preparing for 2017 with a new coach during the four-month off season, who he hopes will help him to improve on the fifth place he secured in last year’s drivers’ championship.
“My preparations have been a mix between training and promotional work. I have a good programme of training with a new coach for this year and we will try to be physically stronger. But there are lots of events with partners and it’s important to be present.”
The forthcoming meeting – the eighth WTCC race to take place in Morocco – takes place on the 60th anniversary of the first Grands Prix of Morocco and it will also mark the first time that Bennani has raced following his father passing away earlier this year.
“It’s something strong, and 1957 is a lot of things for me. Not just this birthday, but it’s also the year of birth of my father, who died this year. So it’s good to have all these memories.”