In the arena of motorsports, some names resonate because of their prize lists, others because of their pure passion.
Hassan Tazi combines both, with a rare intensity. Nicknamed « The Doc » in the paddocks, our guest of the day was not a professional driver in the strictest sense. He perfectly embodies the figure of the Moroccan « Gentleman Driver. »
A dental surgeon by profession in Rabat, he managed his sporting career with the same precision as his medical practice. Primarily active in national circuit competitions during the 2000s and 2010s, he often raced under the colors of the Grand Maghreb club, one of the most prestigious in the country. He left his mark on national motorsport history, by clinching the supreme title of Moroccan Champion in 2009, at the wheel of his formidable Saxo Challenge. But beyond the competition, he is a mechanical aesthete, whose personal garage has seen a parade of the world’s finest engineering masterpieces: from the technological fury of a Ferrari 458 Italia to the timeless charm of a Mercedes Pagoda. From his first improvised laps near the Hilton forest to professional circuits, he shares the story of a life lived at full throttle, where every turn is an emotion and every engine a symphony.
It is often said that the passion for cars takes root in childhood. Was that the case for you?
It all started with a gift from my late father: he bought me a mini Solex. It was just a small engine, but for me, it was the beginning of an endless exploration. That’s where I became a self-taught handyman. I wasn’t satisfied with just riding; I wanted to understand how it worked, taking it apart, putting it back together… In short, I quickly learned to get my hands dirty. That smell of oil and gasoline never left me. As soon as I reached driving age, the passion turned into a thirst for speed. I remember memorable moments with my brother; we would take our mother’s car and go have fun near the Hilton forest. We drove « flat out, » testing the limits and discovering the first thrills of sports driving, long before stepping onto a real circuit.
Barely an adult, your garage already looked like that of a seasoned enthusiast. What were your first rides?
At 18, as soon as I got my license, I had my first car: a Honda Civic. It was an excellent school. But I already wanted more. At 19, I moved to a Fiat 132 Mirafiori, a car that already had a certain character.
However, the real shock—the big leap into the world of performance—happened that same year, with the acquisition of my very first sports car: a Corvette C3 V8 5.7. Imagine being 19 behind the wheel of such an American monster! It was a move into another dimension—one of raw power, generous V8 torque, and a design that left no one indifferent. That is undoubtedly where my love for large displacements was definitively crystallized.
Your competitive career is impressive, culminating in that Moroccan Champion title. How was this racing career built?
The real spark for competition dates back to 1989.
I went to Dominique Marciano to prepare a Lancia Delta HF Integrale. We installed a roll cage, stripped it down, and that’s when I began unforgettable battles on the track, notably with Ahmed Fadli. It was an era of pure adrenaline. Later, my passion went up a notch with a Porsche 928 S4—a fantastic but demanding machine. Although heavier and less agile than a 911, I entered it in some competitions, after preparing it with significant weight reduction in the cabin and optimizing the braking system, to endure the brutal accelerations of city circuits. It left an impression with its transaxle V8, which was rare on Moroccan tracks.
In 1990, I joined the M2 category with a BMW 320i, again carefully prepared by Dominique Marciano.
But racing also has its setbacks: in 2004, in the M1 category, I literally wrecked the engine of my 205 GTI 1.6L in just three months of competition. That didn’t discourage me. In 2006, I bought the famous Saxo Challenge in Meknes. I invested heavily in it—about 500,000 DH in preparation—to turn it into a racing beast. That investment and all that work paid off, since I won the Moroccan Championship in 2009.
It was a source of immense pride, especially since it was won through a hard-fought battle against seasoned drivers, such as Mohamed Mennane, Jacky Delaorden or Adil Fellous. I continued racing between 2010 and 2014 in the Clio Cup, with a very fun brief foray into Legend Cars, in 2013. Every car and every race was a driving lesson.
What was your greatest race?
Unquestionably, my victory at the Tangier Grand Prix in 2009. It is one of my most publicized successes. On the winding circuit of the « City of the Strait, » I won the M1 category, against a very high- level field of drivers.
In addition to your track demonstrations, you played a pioneering role within your club, Grand Maghreb?
Member of the club since the beginning of my racing career, I was an active participant in meetings and events organized to promote road safety and sports among youth. I was also active within the bodies of the Moroccan Federation of Motor Sports (FRMSA). In that capacity, I was behind the initiative to establish the categories: M1: under 1,600 cm , M2: under 2,000 cm , M3: over 2,000 cm and M4: R5 GT Turbo engines.
Your personal collection is a dream. Which cars have meant the most to the mechanical aficionado that you are?
I’ve been lucky enough to have extraordinary cars pass through my hands. With Ferrari, I’ve owned models with very different temperaments: the 599 GTB for its devastating power, the 488 GTB and 458 Italia for their surgical precision, but also more atypical models, like the Ferrari 412 or the GTC4 Lusso, which combine luxury and performance.
Porsche also holds a central place in my life.
Besides the 928 from my early days, I’ve owned several generations of the 911: the 996 Phase 1 and 2, as well as the 997 Carrera 4S Phase 2. These are engineers’ cars, built to be pushed. But I am not just a man of pure speed; I love the automobile as an object. My Mercedes Pagoda represents the pinnacle of classic elegance for me. Finally, I also have a tuned Alfa Romeo 4C, a lightweight little firecracker, that provides sensations very close to actual racing.
With such an experience, is there still an icon missing from your « emotional » prize list?
Even after driving modern Ferraris and cutting-edge Porsches, my dream remains an icon of the past: the Porsche 930 Turbo. It’s the « Widowmaker »— the raw car par excellence. To me, it represents the very essence of a sports car: a temperamental turbo engine, a timeless silhouette and a driving experience that forgives nothing. It’s the car I’d love to own, to come full circle in this passion.
We talked a lot about four wheels, but you are also a great lover of two wheels, aren’t you?
Absolutely, the passion for engines doesn’t stop at the number of wheels. It started very early, alongside the Solex, with a 1974 Honda Mini Trail.
It was the perfect toy for learning balance. Later, I owned the legendary XT 500, a bike with character and a lot of torque—a true pleasure to ride. Today, my approach to motorcycling has evolved toward travel and great comfort, which is why I ride a Honda Goldwing 1800. It’s a rolling lounge, but with a six-cylinder engine, that remains a marvel of technology.
To conclude, when you aren’t looking for the perfect line or working on an engine, how do you escape ?
Escape is always linked to a form of sport and mastery. I have always been passionate about alpine skiing and water skiing—two disciplines where you find that search for the right glide and the perfect curve. But I must admit that lately, Golf occupies most of my free time. It’s a sport radically different from racing, because of its calm, but it requires a rigor and concentration that strangely recall the precision needed at the entry of a track corner. It’s my way of staying competitive, while enjoying a more peaceful setting.
Bio express :
1961: Born in Rabat.
1983: Obtains his degree as a dental surgeon.
1989: Starts his racing career at the wheel of a Delta HF Integrale.
2009: Crowned Moroccan Champion in the M1 category at the wheel of a Citroën Saxo.
