Marrakesh E-Prix

Marrakesh E-Prix
Circuit Details
Name	FIA Formula Marrakech ePrix
Location	Circuit International Automobile Moulay El Hassan
Length	2.971km (1.846mi)
Corners	12
First Race	12th November 2016
Last Race	unknown
Only Race	unknown
Circuit Records
Fastest Lap	Qualifying	Race
1:22.600	1:20.355	1
Loïc Duval	Sébastien Buemi	Sébastien Buemi

 The city of Marrakech, also spelt as Marrakesh, is a major city in the country of Morocco and an upcoming host of the FIA Formula E Championship, set to see its first ePrix at the 2016 Marrakech ePrix. First proposed as a host city for the 2016/17 season, Marrakech has had an increasing interest in motorsport, having hosted a round of the World Touring Car Championship since 2009.

City History

First founded in c.1070, Marrakech was originally the capital of the Almoravid Empire, as well as the Almohad Caliphate three quarters of a century later. The city would later be captured by the Marinid Dynasty in the 13th century and lose its capital status to Fez as the city entered numerous rebellions. By 1550 Marrakech was back as a capital city, the home to the Saadian sharifs as they controlled a unified Morocco, before that dynasty was overthrown in the 17th Century.

An Alawite royal household was established in Marrakech, but the city was just one of a number of de facto capitals for the dynasty, with the city receiving a major renovation in the 19th Century. The year of 1912 would see Marrakech fall into the hands of the French Army as they created the French protectorate of Morocco. Once Morocco became independent in 1956 Marrakech would continue its longstanding rivalry with Fez to be recognised as the capital of Morocco, although both would lose out to Rabat in later years.

Formula E History

Marrakech was first proposed as a Formula E host city for the 2016/17 season, getting a place on the provisional calendar released on the 2nd of July 2016. The venue was confirmed alongside a press release announcing that the ePrix would be an official event of the COP22 meeting, set to be held in the city the day after. COP22 were meeting to discuss climate change, with representatives of the world's biggest countries set to debate the issue.

Circuit History

The Marrakech ePrix circuit was revealed as part of the COP22 announcement, using the same layout as the 2016 Afriquia Race of Morocco, a WTCC round. The reduced circuit length would mean that the circuit did not have to be changed for Formula E, with the facilities also able to be adopted for the FE machines.

Circuit Layout

The lap opens with a long left hander, with the pitlane exit located on the inside of the circuit just as the corner straightens out. Turn two then carries the cars on a long right hand sweep to another long left hander, with the field then completing a short straight to the turn four-five chicane. Turn six forms the exit of the chicane as the field go down a straight, before turn seven sees the cars dive the the brakes for a 45° left.

Turn eight sees a 90° left lead the field into the long turn nine, which runs along the outside of the Kenzi Menara Palace. A 180° left brings the cars onto the highway for a few hundred meters until the cars cut back onto the permanent aspect of the circuit. Another short burst brings the field into the final corner, with the pit entrance on the outside of turn twelve as the field then blast down the start/finish straight.

Records

A full list of records for the Marrakech ePrix are outlined below, including a list of race winners.

Winners

Below is a list of all of the winners of ePrix held in Marrakesh E-Prix:

Marrakesh E-Prix ePrix Winners List
Season	Name	Circuit	Date	Winner	Report
2016/17	2016 FIA Formula E Marrakech ePrix	Circuit Moulay El Hassan	12th November 2016	Sébastien Buemi	Report
2017/18	2018 ABB FIA Formula E Marrakech E-Prix	Circuit Moulay El Hassan	13th January 2018	Felix Rosenqvist	Report

Circuit International Automobile Moulay El Hassan

The Circuit International Automobile Moulay El Hassan hosted its first ePrix on the 12th of November 2016, although several records were broken in 2018:

• Qualifying Record: 1:20.355 - Sébastien Buemi (2018)
• Lap Record: 1:22.600 - Loïc Duval (2018)
• Most Poles: Felix Rosenqvist; Sébastien Buemi (1)
• Most Wins: Sébastien Buemi; Felix Rosenqvist (1)

References

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