Moroccan duo Mehdi Bennani and Sami Taoufik will complete Sébastien Loeb Racing’s line-up in this year’s TCR Europe series, joining Niels Langeveld and Felice Jelmini in a pair of the team’s new Hyundai Elantra N TCR cars.
Bennani, the reigning TCR Europe champion, will head into his second season in the series, once again being partnered by young Moroccan Taoufik, who was his team-mate last year at Comtoyou Racing, where the duo race Audi RS3 LMS machinery.
For Bennani, the move marks a return to the French team with which he raced in the World Touring Car Cup in 2018 and 2019 and also in the World Touring Car Championship in 2015 to 2017.
Bennani, who lifted the title last year despite not winning a race, is looking forward to continuing his relationship with Taoufik.
“Sami is like my little brother and I am very happy to share this new adventure with him,” said Bennani, 38.
“We are very proud to represent Morocco on the international motorsport scene and I know that with Sébastien Loeb Racing we are bounded for a very successful season!”
The team’s drivers already had the chance to test the new cars this week, with team boss Sébastien Loeb watching on.
The TCR Europe season gets underway next weekend at the Slovakiaring.