Mehdi Bennani’s capture of the WTCC Trophy was just what the Moroccan racer deserved. That’s according to his Sébastien Loeb Racing team-mate Tom Chilton, who lost out in the title tussle to the Moroccan and fellow Citroën C-Elysée driver when the FIA World Touring Car Championship was last on track in China.
Chilton (pictured left) came into 2016 as one of the favourites to land the coveted award for independent racers but found Bennani, who placed second to Norbert Michelisz in last season’s WTCC Trophy battle, too good to beat.
“I’m really happy for Mehdi after model year,” said Briton Chilton. “He already knew the car, whereas it has taken me some time to be at the same level. But he’s a very good competitor and he deserves this title.”
Chilton needed to score big and hope Bennani didn’t in China to keep his title charge on course. But his retirement from Shanghai’s Opening Race all but guaranteed Bennani the crown.
“I’m very frustrated to lose the championship in that way,” said Chilton. “In the Opening Race I was second which, beyond the podium itself, was perfect for me in the independent trophy as it meant I was in front of Mehdi. Unfortunately, I was hit very hard by [Gabriele Tarquini’s] LADA at the exit of the hairpin. It was a very stupid attack, my front wheel broke so I have to say a huge thanks to the Sébastien Loeb Racing crew who did an incredible job to fix the car in only five minutes. It was amazing and thanks to them I was able to be on Main Race grid and to finish second in the WTCC Trophy.”