Mehdi Bennani: “The pressure is very strong”

How are you approaching this season?
I feel serene. We approached winter preparation well by trying to start our tests very early. It's a new championship for everyone, with new manufacturers. I have to be ready mentally and physically, I can't do better.

Starting with a home appointment, is it ideal or uncomfortable?
I would have loved for the Marrakech Grand Prix to be the second or even third trip of the year... We would have started the season in another place, so I would have been able to see the hierarchy and better compare myself to my rivals. The pressure is very high, it is a highly anticipated event in Morocco. Everyone expects to see me achieve good results. In addition, I will discover a new, more condensed weekend format. But I have no choice and it will be the same for the other competitors. It's the opening of the season, and as a Moroccan, it's very important to host a World Cup stage. It's up to me to handle the pressure and be strong.

It must be a busy weekend as a crowd favorite…
If I had the possibility of hiring clones at a race meeting, it would be in Marrakech (laughs)! The public is impatiently awaiting this meeting, I have special press conferences, quite a few marketing operations, etc. I must respond, not only on the track, but also in the media and with the public. Even if we do our best to be punctual and keep my appointments, we struggle to get by. I won't have a minute to myself this weekend, that's for sure. But I don't see it in a negative light, on the contrary. I want to thank all the people who are behind me (his Facebook account is followed by 1 fans, the record in WTCR), I congratulate them for their enthusiasm for this event.

Same team, new car! Welcome to the #WTCR @MBennaniRacing pic.twitter.com/nztsWdmj7U

— FIA WTCR / Oscaro (@FIA_WTCR) March 13, 2018

Unlike the majority of the paddock, you did not change teams in the off-season; Would that be an asset this year?
I achieved the best results of my career with the Sébastien Loeb Racing. Plus, we have Volkswagen supporting us, it’s honestly the best offer of my career. Thanks to Volkswagen, we've moved up a notch, the work is more important.

Your new teammate, Rob Huff (WTCC champion in 2012) is renowned for his rough steering; Does that worry you?
No, I like having teammates who are as strong or even stronger than me. Rob Huff is one of the best drivers in Touring. I enjoy competing against top drivers, it allows me to rate myself well personally. We know what our level is and that makes me push my limits with each new teammate.

How to manage a long championship of 30 races?
Consistency will be the key word. We saw last year, Thed Björk was titled by only winning one event. We will have to be consistent.

What is your goal for this season?
It's still a bit early to think about the championship, but I want to win. We're not here to pretend, that's all I live for right now! I spend my day thinking about “motor sport”, trying to optimize results. It would be a first to see Morocco win a motorsport world cup.

Your entire WTCC career took place in the Independent and then Trophy categories, in private structures. Is this an advantage for the WTCR, which excludes any factory team?
I never paid attention to these secondary rankings. All I care about is the General. In any case, these seasons allowed me to gain experience. In Tourism, this is a fundamental fact, you cannot be champion at the end of the year if you lack experience.