Mehdi Bennani praised the progress that his Sébastien Loeb Racing team made with setting up his new Hyundai Elantra N at the Slovakiaring, leading to the Moroccan claiming the first-ever TCR win for the new car.
Bennani started the second TCR Europe race from reverse-grid pole position on Sunday, and the reigning champion was never headed as he took the new car to its first win.
In the second half of the race, he had to endure pressure from the charging CUPRA of Mikel Azcona, but the 37-year-old was able to withstand it and also secure his first-ever win in the series.
Victory was also Bennani’s first win in any series in the last three years, since he last took victory in the FIA World Touring Car Cup in Wuhan in 2018.
“I’m happy because it’s something good, on the first outing of the car, to be on the top and fighting with top guys like Azcona with the CUPRA that has already had one year of development,” said Bennani.
“The basis looks strong and the team did an amazing job, as well as the drivers, to make the car work in a good way.
“Like every time, you can never say that it is easy. I think if I remember, some drivers have overtaken 11 or 12 cars and they were a little bit close to me yesterday, so every time is not easy.
“You have to manage a lot of stuff, but it is a good way that we are working on the Hyundai now.”
Bennani was full of praise for SLR, after the new Elantra drivers had struggled to break into the top ten during free practice.
“We were struggling a lot in practice but I want to thank a lot the team, including the four drivers that give the best feedback, to move things in a good way.
“I am very, very happy for the team. It is our first race in the car so I hope that it is going to get better and better.
“We are here to fight to the maximum, and I don’t want to lose my P1, because my job is to keep it for Hyundai and I think everybody at Hyundai Motorsport will be very happy now.”
Bennani also expressed pride for his team-mate and compatriot Sami Taoufik, even though he was pushed off the startline after he stalled at the start of race two.
“I’m so proud that Sami is on the pace, because there is not only one Moroccan now representing international motorsport, there are two.
“Without this mistake he would also be fighting for the top five, easily, so I’m very, very proud of him also to represent the Moroccan flag.”