Mehdi Bennani is a notable Moroccan professional racing driver widely recognized as the first North African driver to compete and win a race in an FIA-sanctioned World Championship event.

Building an elite motorsport career from international karting and single-seaters to global touring cars, he has dedicated his path to mastering front-wheel-drive touring car machinery and capturing major international crowns, earning widespread public admiration.

Mehdi Bennani
Wiki Facts & About Data
Name:	Mehdi Bennani
Born:	August 25, 1983 (age 43 years old)
Place of Birth:	Fez, Morocco
Nationality:	Moroccan
Ethnicity:	Moroccan / Arab
Height:	178 cm
Religion:	Islam
Parents:	Abdelali Bennani, Samira Bennani
Spouse:	Soukaina Benkirane
Relationship:	Married
Children:	1
Occupation:	Professional Racing Driver
Net Worth:	$2 million

Early Life and Education

Mehdi Bennani was born on August 25, 1983, in Fez, Morocco.

He is the son of Abdelali Bennani, a former motocross champion, and Samira Bennani, a pioneering racer known as the first Arab-African female circuit racing champion.

He completed his foundational schooling locally before pursuing higher education at Al Akhawayn University in Ifrane while rapidly progressing through European and Asian open-wheel racing series. His religious background is rooted in Islam.

Career

Mehdi Bennani began his professional journey as an open-wheel prospect, finishing as runner-up in the 2004 Formula BMW Asia championship with Team Meritus.

He initially worked on developing his craft across European junior formulas like the Formula Renault 3.5 Series and Euroseries 3000, before moving into touring cars and making history at his home round in Marrakech during the 2009 FIA World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) as the first African driver in the series.

His career expanded with major international milestones, including securing historic race victories at Shanghai in 2014 and winning the WTCC Yokohama Independents’ Trophy with Sébastien Loeb Racing in 2016.

He later worked on dominating European touring car championships, capturing the overall 2020 TCR Europe Touring Car Series Drivers’ Championship title with Comtoyou Racing.

In recent years, Mehdi Bennani has focused on elite international TCR competition and international touring car cups.

His latest confirmed project is campaigning in the Kumho FIA TCR World Tour and TCR Europe, while further regional driver academy initiatives remain in development.

Awards and Nominations

• TCR Europe Touring Car Series Champion (2020)
• FIA WTCC Independents’ Trophy Champion (2016)
• First North African/Arab Driver to Win an FIA World Championship Race (2014)
• Moroccan National Karting Champion (2001)

Social Media

• Instagram Handle: @mehdibennani_official
• X Handle: @MehdiBennani25

Personal Life

Mehdi Bennani, 43 years old, has been married to Soukaina Benkirane, the couple have one child.

He is currently based between Fez, Morocco, and Southern Europe, where he manages his international racing schedule, physical training, and personal schedule.

His personal hobbies include jet skiing, fitness training, soccer, and spending quality time with family. He communicates fluently in Arabic, French, and English. He stands at a height of 178 cm.

Net Worth

Mehdi Bennani net worth is calculated around $2 million USD.

His primary revenue streams stem from professional racing driver contracts, international team performance bonuses, corporate sponsorship partnerships with Moroccan public and commercial entities, and brand ambassadorships.

What People Ask