IT WILL be a whole new experience this weekend for BMW Team UK’s Andy Priaulx when the FIA World Touring Car Championship goes to Marrakech for the first time for races round the new street track on the African continent.

Having recovered from the thrill of completing his first marathon in London last week, the Guernseyman is targeting another strong finish to stay in the thick of the drivers’ championship chase currently dominated by Rickard Rydell and Yvan Muller.

“It reminds me of Monza and there are definitely no run off areas, so it is a rather typical street circuit,’ said Priaulx yesterday.

‘The track is quite narrow and the long straight is very similar to Porto. There are a lot of blind corners, so it would be a big advantage to be near the front of the grid.

‘There is a good variety of chicanes. The rolling start for race one should be interesting, as there is a long run to the first corner and any overtaking manoeuvres will have to be pinpoint accurate.

‘Don’t be surprised to see lots of cars minus their wing mirrors at the end of the races,’ said the triple world champion.

This will be the third weekend of the season for the drivers with races in Brazil and Mexico behind them.