A LOOK BACK ON THE 24^th RALLY MAROC CLASSIC
11-18 MARCH 2017

CASABLANCA – ESSAOUIRA – AGADIR – OUARZAZATE – MARRAKECH

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It was on March 11 that the Morocco Classic Rally – La Route Du Coeur, organized by Cyril Neveu, five-time winner of the Paris-Dakar Moto, set off from Casablanca for a new adventure on the roads of Morocco, under the Haut Patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI. For this 24th edition, about twenty crews set off from Casablanca to cover the 7 stages and 2200 kilometers of discovery of Morocco and its landscapes full of treasures.
In addition to the very friendly atmosphere and the top-of-the-range reception facilities set up to welcome the competitors, the Maroc Classic remains a regularity rally for seasoned amateurs and it was very “competitive” crews who faced off over the 20 events of regularity distributed over the course. From the start, the particularly sporty and committed rhythm of the course giving pride of place to the Atlantic coast and the Atlas Mountains offered regularity tests, short and rhythmic, with averages trying to undermine the endurance qualities of the crews. and their machines, particularly during the two round stages which were on the program around Agadir and around Ouarzazate. The high places of Morocco Classic such as the special stages of Imsouane, Tiskatine, Argana or Ouirgane (to name a few) have established, from the first hairpin bends, a hierarchy among the favorites.
The rally could not end without the final regularity test contested on the FIA Moulay El Hassan Circuit in Marrakech, usually dedicated to the WTCC and Formula E, where the last podium finishes were still at stake! The big winners of the 2017 edition of Morocco Classic, the Carlos GHISTELINCK / Lieven DAVID crew, at the wheel of their MERCEDES COUPE 350, did not hide their pleasure at the finish by winning the rally again after their first victory in 2002 Let’s hope they don’t wait another 15 years for a 3rd success!
he last special stages were only formalities for the leading crews of the two Classic and Prestige categories after a week of hurtling down the Moroccan roads and the 20 regularity stages contested so far.
Second, the ARLAUD spouses who brilliantly took their CITROEN DS21 throughout the week are closely followed by Damien and Emilie COURTENS (the 2016 winners) on PORSCHE 911, who will have given everything to snatch this 3rd place after a timid start to rally. In the Prestige category, the final victory of the Maserati GranCabrio entered under the colors of TOTAL Maroc is ahead of the Toyota Prius Hybrid which proudly displayed the green dear to AIN IFRANE, official mineral water of the Rallye Maroc Classic, followed by the crew VERZELE – BASIL on their BENTLEY CONTINENTAL GTC.

Daily reports, stage by stage

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In memory of our friend Gildas, faithful steward of Morocco Classic, gone too soon.

Final overall classifications

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