Mehdi Bennani emotional after maiden WTCC win

Mehdi Bennani scored an emotional maiden win in the FIA World Touring Car Championship, also giving the new Honda Civic WTCC its first win.

The Moroccan was crying after the flag, and got emotional several times as the podium ceremony unfolded. “This is a fantastic feeling – I think I may be dreaming,” said Bennani. “Winning is something so special that I have been thinking about for years now. I want to thank His Majesty the King of Morocco for having made this possible, in putting me here amongst the best drivers in the World Championship. I want also to thank my family for the total support, Honda, J.A.S. Motorsport and of course my Proteam Racing of Valmiro Presenzini . I gave it my 100% from the start to the very end. It’s something wonderful.”

Honda’s day was further sweetened by Tiago Monteiro’s second place, giving the Japanese manufacturer a 1-2. The Portuguese driver praised Honda’s Customer program:“In Race 1 I had a big fight with Loeb and with the tyres degrading fast I was right on the limit. Race 2 victory proved that we are working together with the private drivers and that they have the same car as our factory team. So I’m happy for Mehdi and for Honda. We will keep fighting in the upcoming races.”

Norbert Michelisz was also a protagonist of the Shanghai event, with a fifth and a fourth, inherited after a penalty awarded to Sébastien Loeb:“I am proud of my results here. I did the maximum to help my colleagues from Honda in the front of the race, because that was my plan in Race 2, helping to keep the gap between the Civics and the competition. So I’m very happy with this first victory for Honda.”

Despite the good results, Honda lost out on Citroën in the Manufacturers’ championship, with the French team also sure to win the Drivers’ crown with either José María López or Yvan Muller.