Category: Formula E

  • Bruno Senna finishes 5th for Mahindra team; Karun Chandhok 12th

    Long Beach (US), 4 April 2015. Karun Chandhok 12th Long Beach 5April2015The Mahindra Racing Formula E Team leave the Long Beach FIA Formula E ePrix with a brilliant drive and fifth position from Bruno Senna. The Brazilian racer charged throughout the race to gain positions meaning he snatches a strong haul of well-deserved points. Having started from outside the top ten the race was a frantic fight for positions in the Californian sunshine which saw team mate Karun Chandhok cross the line in 12th.

    Following three free practice sessions and the standard group lottery qualifying the drivers lined up alongside packed grandstands and excited fans for the start of the race with Senna in 12th and Chandhok in 18th.

    As the lights went out it was a tight squeeze to the first chicane for the grid as they all eyed up their potential positions; thankfully all drivers made it through safely albeit with a couple of corners cut to avoid creating incidents. As Senna and Chandhok passed the line for the first time they were running 11th and 19th respectively.

    However soon after the race was slowed with the appearance of the safety car after Scott Speed collided with the wall leaving his front right corner destroyed. With the car neutralising the race, Senna was already running in the top ten and Chandhok was 18th as he awaited the restart of the race.

    However the restart didn’t last as long as hoped when just moments later a second safety car was deployed while the stricken car of Jarno Trulli was removed from the track following a collision with Charles Pic. Once the debris was taken away the race could finally get back underway with no further disruption.

    The delay in the race however altered the strategy for both Senna and Chandhok, allowing them to remain out on track for a couple of extra laps before needing to pit for their second cars. However when they did, both stops were quick and smooth and with all mandatory car swaps complete Senna had made his way up to sixth position, well and truly in the points, and Chandhok 14th.

    The rest of the race settled slightly until the final few laps when a drive through penalty for Daniel Abt, a consequence of exceeding his maximum power allowance, meant that Senna was able to claim fifth for his own. Senna began to chase Sebastian Buemi ahead however with a few laps left he settled for an impressive fifth – collecting further points for the team. Chandhok was less fortunate and after a difficult race in the mid field crossed the line in 12th position overall.

    Speaking of his finish Senna said, ‘I’m glad we got a good result out of a qualifying that wasn’t the strongest for us, but still an improvement on previous rounds. It was great to be competitive on track when we needed to be and have the chance to gain those positions. The team did a great job and we can be happy with the result – we got the most out of the race and we will be aiming for even better in Monaco.’

    Chandhok added, ‘The American races haven’t been kind to me but we can be pleased as a team to see Bruno’s result. There are a few things we need to work on and things didn’t go our way today however we’re heading to Europe now and I plan on that being the turning point after two difficult races.’

    Team Principal Dilbagh Gill said, ‘We knew that we had good race pace here; even though in qualifying we were outside of the top ten, we were confident that we would be able to gain positions throughout the race which is what we did assuredly. Bruno had a very strong race and Karun was also able to improve throughout. We’re now entering the second half of the season and we feel this is our turning point and we will continue on in this positive and strong direction.’

    eom/Mahindra press release

  • Mahindras’ Karun Chandhok raring to go in Argentina leg: Formula E

    Buenos Aires, 9 Jan 2015: India’s Karun Chandhok and his Mahindra Racing Formula E team will be back in action this weekend as the FIA Formula E Championship gears up to tackle the streets of Buenos Aires in Argentina. Karun Chandhok and his teammate Bruno Senna will be back out on track in South America just a few short weeks after their previous visit to the continent in December 2014.

    The fourth round of the season in Buenos Aires is likely to be a scorching affair for the drivers and teams as they race during the height of summer, with temperatures reaching up to 40 degrees. This would mean regulating the temperature of the battery and components of the Mahindra racing car will be essential throughout the weekend.

    The circuit features 12 turns around the 2.44km configuration and unlike the previous beach side round in Uruguay, the Buenos Aires ePrix will be held within the capital’s Puerto Madero district. The city of Buenos Aires makes for an exciting prospect for the entire paddock and it is anticipated that the population will be out in full force supporting the race in the Argentinean capital.

    The previous round in Punta del Este, Uruguay, saw Senna walk away with his first points of the season following a sixth place finish. Chandhok was forced to change his race-plan following a damage caused by a high kerb; bringing him in earlier than hoped during the race.

    However, both drivers came away from the third round of the season feeling confident in the car and the pace they had achieved in the post-race test.

    Looking ahead to the fourth round Karun Chandhok said, “Punta del Este wasn’t the best weekend for us as a team and we weren’t quite as competitive as we had been in the opening two rounds. The test on the Sunday gave us a lot of answers and we’re looking forward to being back out there and on form in Buenos Aires. The aim is to try and get a podium soon because we have the potential, we just need to fulfil it.”

    Chandhok is supported by JK Tyre, as well as Tag Heuer, Sidvin and the AVT group.

    eom

    Karun-Chandhok-right-prepares-wtih-Mahindra-teammate-Bruno-Senna-for-Formula-E-in-Argentina-on Friday. A Mahindra team photo
    Karun-Chandhok-right-prepares-wtih-Mahindra-teammate-Bruno-Senna-for-Formula-E-in-Argentina-on Friday. A Mahindra team photo
  • Karun finishes 6th to move up to 3rd in Formula E

    Karun Chandhok of Mahindra finishes 6th at Putrajaya on Saturday. A Mahindra team image
    Karun Chandhok of Mahindra finishes 6th at Putrajaya on Saturday. A Mahindra team image

    Putrajaya (Malaysia), 22 Nov 2014: India’s Karun Chandhok had his Mahindra Racing Formula E team had a mixed day on the streets of Putrajaya, Malaysia after a pit stop problem cost him a podium position. Chandhok finished in 6th position after fighting back from 11th in an eventful race that saw him running in 3rd position for the first half of the race. Chandhok has moved up to joint 3rd in the Championship after completion of two rounds of the inaugural FIA Formula E series.

    It was an eventful day for the Mahindra Racing Formula E team today, in round two of the 2014/15 FIA Formula E Championship. In a race of mixed emotions, both Mahindra Drivers lost out on potential top four positions, with Indian racer Karun Chandhok crossing the line in sixth and Bruno Senna crashing out of fourth place with just a few corners remaining.

    Chandhok, who started 5th on the grid, made the most of a slow starting Daniel Abt to make his way into fourth place while Senna also made up a place passing the Abt car. Two separate incidents on the opening lap created the need for the safety car as various debris was cleared from the circuit.

    At the restart both Mahindra Racing cars remained in contention with Chandhok holding onto fourth, before making his way into third place by pulling off a great move on pole sitter Oriol Servia into turn 1. Chandhok was in third place putting pressure on 2nd placed ex-F1 driver Jarno Trulli for the first half of the race. Unfortunately a delay in the pits lost Chandhok 14 seconds and positions as he slipped back to 11th place as he exited the pits. Senna meanwhile had also swapped to his second Mahindra car, and was ninth.

    Senna was keen to make progress through the field however and made up several positions due to overtakes and drive through penalties for other drivers. Using his Fan Boost, Senna passed Nicholas Prost to take fourth place. Chandhok was also making progress, up to seventh place after passing Daniel Abt.

    Senna crashed on the last lap when following third placed man Sebastien Buemi closely and made heavy impact with the barriers while Chandhok meanwhile had done well to recover to sixth place.

    Reflecting on his race, Chandhok said, “Unfortunately the pit stop didn’t go too well for us. One of our regular mechanics was taken to hospital yesterday so we’re a man down so it wasn’t quite a slick as normal. If we look at where the time we lost would have put us, I think we would have been easily on the podium. I was running in third place earlier on, feeling comfortable, not taking any risks but the pace was there. I’m driving well and we have a good car so we need to make sure everything comes together in Uruguay.”

    Team Principal Dilbagh Gill added, “Again, it’s been a very eventful Formula E weekend with many ups and downs. As in Beijing we showed very good pace, we clearly have a handle on the technical side but it didn’t quite come together this weekend in terms of the podium results we deserved. There are positives to take away; strong pace again and the fantastic support of the fans who supported Bruno again through Fan Boost, for which we are very thankful. We now head to Uruguay confident of better results.”

    The Mahindra Racing Formula E team will be back in action in three week’s time for round three of the season at the Punta Del Este, Uruguay.

    Chandhok is supported by long term supporters JK Tyre, as well as Tag HeuerSidvin and the AVT group.

    eom/Adrenna Communications press release

     

  • Sam Bird seals victory in the Putrajaya ePrix

    Sam Bird cruised to victory at the second race of the season in Putrajaya ahead of championship-leader Lucas di Grassi and Sebastien Buemi.

    Putrajaya (Malaysia), 22 Nov 2014: The Virgin Racing driver crossed the line to pick up the full 25-points and clinch his maiden ePrix win.

    Bird said: “The weekend went really well, we were quick from the first outing and we were quickest in practice. Qualifying didn’t quite go our way as I think we were not in the best group for doing a fast lap time but we put that right in the race.

    “The first stint I was able to get a very good gap which meant we could take it easy and not make any silly mistakes, do some lift and coasting, and coast to the finish. I have to dedicate this win to a good friend of mine who is very ill. It’s very sad what’s happened to him and this one is for Jules.”

    Audi Sport ABT driver Lucas di Grassi and e.dams-Renault’s Sebastien Buemi both managed to fight their way through the field to stand on the podium despite starting at the back of the grid.

    Di Grassi said: “For sure this was beyond my expectations. Everyone is here to win, everyone is pushing to the limit as this track has proven once and for all this car is very tricky to drive even if you have done all the testing. The tiniest margin can ruin your whole weekend and that’s what happened in qualifying from my side and then to come all the way from the back of the grid on a street track to second is an amazing feeling. I felt I had a much better race than in Beijing where I won.”

    “I’m really happy I have to say,” said Buemi. “We were really good in testing and then when we came to the first race it just didn’t go well. It went bad today in the qualifying which is quite strange, we did some set up changes that didn’t work so well but I felt the strongest in this car and finished third.”

    Bird’s win means he moves up to second place in the championship standings just three points behind Beijing race-winner di Grassi.

    Nicolas Prost continued the strong form he showed in qualifying to finish fourth. The Frenchman started from 11th position after carrying over a 10-place grid penalty for causing an avoidable collision in Beijing.

    Dragon Racing’s Jerome d’Ambrosio showed his reliance from last place on the grid to come home in fifth. D’Ambrosio qualified in the top-three only to be penalised for exceeding the maximum power usage.

    Oriol Servia, who inherited pole position, made a good getaway to retain the lead at the start as Daniel Abt dropped back with what seemed to be a power issue.

    The Qualcomm Safety Car was deployed on the opening lap to clean the debris from the track as Amlin Aguri’s Katherine Legge and Michela Cerruti (Trulli) collided. Legge looked to make a pass on the inside but lost the back end and caused Cerruti to spin.

    Andretti racer Matthew Brabham clashed with Venturi’s Nick Heidfeld at the tight turn 10 hairpin sending the Formula E debutant into a spin.

    Brabham’s team-mate Franck Montagny was in a feisty mood as he carved his way through the field but forced Heidfeld into the tyre barrier on the outside of turn five. The stricken Venturi brought out the safety car for a second time.

    Abt make the most of the opportunity and pitted under the safety car in an attempt to run a long second stint. However, it was a gamble that didn’t pay off as he dropped to 10th place to pick up a solitary point.

    He said: “I had some problems at the start which I’m not sure what it was, it seemed like a power issue and it didn’t kick in. I pitted in under the safety car which was a risky strategy and a bit of a gamble which unfortunately didn’t pay off.”

    Mahindra’s Bruno Senna crashed heavily on the final lap in pursuit of Sebastien Buemi for the final podium spot. Senna said: “I saw Buemi and had an opportunity to get a podium but I made a mistake. I just went for it and got out on the marbles when I lost the car.”