Your basket is currently empty!
Category: Indians Abroad
News about Indians racing in different motorsports events abroad
-
Karun Chandhok confirms return to 2015 Le Mans 24 hours with Murphy Prototypes
Le Mans, 8 April 2015: Indian racing driver Karun Chandhok confirmed that he will return to the historic Le Mans 24 hours race on the June 13 and 14. Chandhok, who was the first Indian to drive in the Le Mans 24 hours in 2012, goes back with a firm target of a podium finish at this iconic race. For the third year in succession, Chandhok will race with Murphy Prototypes and the Murphy Prototypes Oreca 03R Nissan-powered LMP2 car. He will be joined by GP2 driver Nathaniel Berthon and the experienced Mark Patterson.
The Le Mans Prototype 2 (LMP2) category this year is the most competitive it has ever been, with new cars from Oreca and HPD as well as a more developed Ligier. However the team are optimistic following a strong pre-season test at Paul Ricard earlier this month.
Chandhok, who is supported by JK Tyre, AVT Premium, Sidvin and Tag Heuer, reiterated his conviction on the Le Mans 24hours being one of the most exciting races in the world. He commented, “Le Mans is one of the greatest races in the world and my ambition to be the first Indian on the podium is still burning strongly within. I am happy to be back with Murphy Prototypes as we have always worked really well together. Nathanael (Berthon) was very quickly up to speed last year and now has a year of sportscar racing under his belt and Mark (Patterson) has improved a great deal from when we raced together in 2013 so I think we’ve got a strong line up. We had a lot of speed and potential in the last two years there but the results didn’t work out for variety of reasons. Hopefully third time lucky!”
Chandhok will add the Le Mans 24Hours to his existing program in the FIA Formula E series with Mahindra Racing. He added, “We’re still half way through the Formula E season and there’s plenty of work to do there with Mahindra Racing, but equally, pursuing my career in Sportscars is still very important to me. There are more and more manufacturers coming into Sportscar racing and having a good result in LMP2 is the perfect way to put yourself back in the shopping window for a full factory drive. It’s going to be a very busy few weeks in May and June with 5 out of 6 weekends on track for Formula E races in Berlin, Moscow and London and then the Le Mans test and race alternating in between!”
Team owner Greg Murphy was excited about having Chandhok back with the team for another assault on the Le Mans 24Hours. He said “I’m really happy to have Karun back with us again. We work well together and we also drive each other mad, but it’s because we have an equally strong ambition to succeed at the biggest race in the world. Apart from obviously being quick, Karun has proven to be a real team player for the past two years at Le Mans for us and this is the main reason I keep pushing for him to join the team. For the first time, we are heading to Le Mans with all three drivers having previous Le Mans experience and this is very important I think.”
The Le Mans 24 hours race, is widely regarded as part of the three Crown Jewels of Motorsport, along with the F1 Monaco Grand Prix and the Indianapolis 500. The 13.6 kilometres long circuit at Le Mans winds through the French countryside, with cars touching top speeds of 315km/h. The race distance is more than 5000 km, which is equal to about 16 F1 races. 2014 saw a record 263300 spectators at the circuit to witness the race. Chandhok, who has a highest finishing position of 6th place, will return to the La Sarthe circuit where the race traditionally starts at 3pm on a Saturday and finishes at 3pm on the Sunday.
Chandhok was also quick to thank his long time supporters JK Tyre, AVT Premium, Sidvin and Tag Heuer for their continued support. He said, “I am entering into my 15th year of association with JK Tyre which is just amazing. We’ ve been together from Formula Maruti all the way to F1 and now to Formula E and Le Mans. Tag Heuer, Sidvin and AVT have also been with me for a few years now and I’m proud to be carrying their colours with me once again.”
http://www.facebook.com/karunchandhok
https://www.twitter.com/karunchandhok
http://www.youtube.com/karunracing
www.karunchandhok.com
eom/Adrenna release
Karun Chandhok poses with an Indian flag. An Adrenna image -
Bruno Senna finishes 5th for Mahindra team; Karun Chandhok 12th
Long Beach (US), 4 April 2015.
The 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
-
Narain Karthikeyan shifts to Dandelion team and Honda engine
2014 car of Dandelion team. A Dandelion team image Okayama (Japan), 28 March 2015: This year Narain Kartikeyan will take part in the Japan Super Formula Japan Series with a new team, Dandelion. It will be a shift from Toyota engine to Honda engine for the Coimbatore-based Narain, the first Indian to make it to the pinnacle of motorsports, the Formula One.
“It was very good to try simulating start, qualifying, race, and pit stop practically, however, because of the engine trouble occurred on both 1st and 2nd day, I lost the valuable opportunity for final setting up of the car,” said Narain after the official test in Suzuka.
Over 2 weeks from the 1st official test in Suzuka Circuit, with cherry blossoms gradually blooming in nice and warm weather, the 2nd official test had started in Okayama International Circuit, where the Supper Formula will be held for the first time in 7 years. The series starts on April l18.
According to forecast, the fine weather would continue during 2-day test. The drivers vigorously ran the cars around from the very beginning of the session, pit stop practice and start practice , long run with fully filled, simulating race and qualification, and so on. At the end of 1st day’s afternoon session, trouble occurred in the engine of Narain Karthikeyan’s car, and he had to finish the day a little unsatisfactorily. Tomoki Nojiri was 4th position overall, 2nd among Honda users.
On 2nd day, Tomoki Nojiri drove his car testing aerodynamic devices. Narain Karthikeyan practiced making pit stop and starting, and also drove around mastering vehicle characteristic and the circuit course. Nojiri finished the morning session in 2nd position, however, right after the afternoon session had started, engine trouble occurred and took a considerable amount of time to deal with it.
Karthikeyan, too, felt something wrong in the engine soon after the session started, and had to suspended the driving halfway through the test. Nojiri managed to return to the course in the end of the test, and simulated the qualifying. After all, he finished the last official test right before ’15 season in 2nd position.
#40：Tomoki Nojiri : Position 2nd overall (1st among HONDA users) I have tested something good, bad, and new in several ways, and could deepen the understanding of my car. I have marked good time constantly, so I do not think I am doing wrong. Now, I have to be prepared with my team, considering how we could reflect this test result to Susuka, the season opener. I am looking forward to the second season of Super Formula to open!!
#41：Narain Karthikeyan : Position 13th overall (4th among HONDA users) It was very good to try simulating start, qualifying, race, and pit stop practically, however, because of the engine trouble occurred on both 1st and 2nd day, I lost the valuable opportunity for final setting up of the car. Tomoki seemed to have several troubles in the engine, so, I hope HONDA engineers will figure out the solution. I am sure they will on time. I have no anxiety on the season opener with Team Dandelion Racing! I will be ready mentally and physically for the race.
-
Arjun to Join Max Verstappen’s Formula 3 Team
Arjun Maini (centre) image courtesy Maini Motor Sport Academy. Bangalore, 24 Feb 2015: Bangalore boy Arjun Maini (17) has been signed by the Dutch team Van Amersfoort Racing for the upcoming FIA Formula 3 championship, a press release from Maini’s manager said here on Tuesday.
The team who famously ran Max Verstappen who at 17 who is all set to become the youngest Formula One driver in history, has been quite impressed with Arjun’s test times and also his performances at the Toyota Racing Series and have signed him as one of the three drivers for the 2015 season. The team has also signed an ex-teammate of Arjun, Alessio Lorandi who raced with Arjun during his karting years as well as Frenchman Charles Leclerc. Interestingly all three drivers in the team will be contesting their first year in the series.
The Van Amersfoort team was founded by Frits van Amersfoort in the year 1975 and has since several drivers such as Jos Verstappen, Tom Coronel, Christijan Albers andHuubRothengatter come through its ranks.
The team shot into the limelight after a great 2014, where lead driver Max Verstappen finished 3rd overall in the Formula 3 FIA championship after jumping straight from karting. The team finished 4thoverall in the 2014 standings with a total of 10 wins and a further 18 podiums between its 3 drivers.
“I’m quite excited to join such as experienced team”, said the 17 year old. “Obviously the team is very good and has the experience to give us an opportunity to do well . The Team has a lot of attention from the media after what they achieved last year. I am hoping to build on a solid foundation and learn as much as I can in my rookie season in the series”.
The FIA Formula 3 Series, is one of the most prestigious championships in Europe, with 33 races being held on 11 weekends across 8 countries in Europe including Russia. The Calendar includes some of the most iconic tracks around the world including Formula One tracks such as Silverstone, Monza and Spa.
eom/Maini release
-
Raj Bharath finishes third overall in MRF Challenge 2015
Irungattukottai (Chennai), 26 Jan 2015: Raj Bharath became the first Indian driver to finish in the top three of the champioinship. The grand finale of the MRF Challenge 2015 which concluded at the Madras Motor Race Track on Sunday saw Indian prodigy Raj Bharath finish third in the championship the first Indian to have achieved this significant milestone in the four-year history of the international championship.
Raj started his 2014 MRF Challenge season on an ominous note with a win and a second place at the Losail International Circuit in Qatar and emerged as a true championship contender and of course the fastest Indian driver by far! (out of four participating).
In round two at Bahrain International Circuit, Raj secured a pole position in qualifying — showcasing his raw speed and talent in an extremely competitive grid made up of drivers from UK, Germany, Australia, Russia, South Africa, Brazil and Austria to name a few. He became the first Indian driver in the history of MRF Challenge to qualify on pole position.
At the final round held in Chennai over this weekend, Raj worked hard to consolidate his position in the championship amongst stiff competition from his rivals and ultimately managed to clinch third overall in the standings – a commendable achievement considering the level of talent on the grid.
“It has been a good season at MRF Challenge – it was of course great to be back in the car after not having raced in 2014. After Qatar it was clear that we would be fighting for the championship despite some bad luck we had in the first round [pit lane start due to mechanical issues]”, commented Raj.
“Bahrain was also a good weekend and although Chennai didn’t exactly go to plan we were still able to be consistently in the points throughout the four races and secure third place in the standings”, he added.
“I’d like to thank my parents for all their support and I’m now aiming to put together enough sponsorship to race in Formula 3 or GP3 next season.”
eom/Press Release from planetsurf creations
Raj Bharath finishes 3rd on Sunday. Photo by planetsurf creations -
MRF Challenge: Ryan Cullen ahead of Sowery and Bharath Raj to start in 6th
Irungattukottai (Chennai), 23 Jan 2015: Dark horse, Raj Bharath suffered initial hiccups as title contender Ryan Cullen boosted his chances by qualifying 2nd, ahead of championship leader Toby Sowery, who took P4 and Raj Bharath, who is third in the standings, will follow further back in 6th position. German driver Sebastian Balthasar took pole position in the final round of the MRF Challenge 2014 at the MMRT in Chennai.
2014 MRF FF1600 Champion Tarun Reddy was the fastest Indian and will start in 5th position. Young British driver Toby Sowery holds a slender 14 point lead over GP3 driver Ryan Cullen, with Indian driver Raj Bharath also in with a chance, albeit 29 points off the leader.
Qualifying was always going to be close after the tight practice sessions. British driver Oscar King, who has been quick in all practice sessions set a time of 1:35.563 to top the times after 5 minutes. Cullen was quick to respond and went almost half a second faster to set a 1:35.095. Balthasar and Sowery both broke the 1:35s barrier to do a late 1:34.9. Mid way through the session the top drivers came in to change for a new set of MRF tyres. The times started tumbling as Balthasar went even faster to set a fastest time of 1:34.543 which was enough for pole position. Behind him was Cullen, King, Sowery, Reddy and Bharath.
An ecstatic Balthasar commented, “It feels great to be on pole position in my first race this season. Qualifying was tough as the sun was setting and it was a challenge for all the drivers. Starting on pole always gives you the best chance to win and I am confident of having a great race tomorrow and will do my best to stay out of the title fight.”
GP3 driver Ryan Cullen was disappointed to miss out on pole position by just one tenth off a second but was happy to start ahead of his rivals. He said, “It was a really good qualifying session but a shame to miss out on pole position as I felt I definitely had the pace. But it is important I beat Toby (Sowery) and hopefully also have some cars between us as it will help me in the title fight. I am confident of a strong result tomorrow so really looking forward to some good racing.”
Earlier in the day Sowery topped Free Practice 1 ahead of King and Balthasar. All drivers were within one tenth off a second of each other with Cullen and Raj in 5th & 6th places respectively. Balthsar struck back to go fastest in Free Practice 2 edging surprise debutant Mathew Solomon and Toby Sowery.
Advait Deodhar and Karthik Tharani Singh look to be the favourites in the MRF FF1600 series as both drivers looked to be in a league of their own. Advait was fastest in both practice sessions with Karthik right behind in what promises to be an intesne battle between the two this weekend.
Saturday will see Race 1 & 2 of the MRF Challenge while Round 1 of the MRF FF1600 will feature the qualifying and the race.
eom/MMSC press release
Raj Bharath during Off season Jan 2014 Photo courtesy Raj Bharath -
Have fun but be safe, Raj Bharath tells fans; MRF Challenge begins in Chennai Saturday
By Niveditha Neelam
Bangalore, 23 January 2015: Excerpts from an interview as Raj Bharath prepares for the season beginning at the Madras Motor Race Track tomorrow. Currently he is third in the standing
s of MRF Challenge and will also begin his campaign in the National Championship.Q&A with Raj Bharath
The season begins in Chennai tomorrow, the last phase of the MRF Challenge. How did you prepare for it?
I have just been training more regularly, putting some extra work with my trainer Ramji Srinivasan in Chennai. My toughest competitor on-track are likely to be Toby Sowery and Ryan Cullen from UK as both are ahead of me in the championship standings.
What is your message for other Indian Formula 1 aspirants?
Follow your dreams but you need to understand from day one that it is a very tough dream to live. A lot of work is needed in the car, in terms of driving technique, as well as out of the car, in terms of the physical/mental training as well as sponsorship – which sadly is the single largest hurdle in our country.
Do you think Indian Formula One Fans have become more aware of the talent pool at home?
Despite Formula 1’s popularity in India, I still feel that most F1 and international motorsport fans in India are not aware of home-grown talent in junior ranks.
Which is the biggest challenge you face as a Formula 1 aspirant in India?
Of course Sponsorship – it has been the same all along for every aspiring racer in India. It is extremely difficult to sell corporates on motorsport.
What are your goals for 2015?
My goal is to participate in a Formula 3 level championship in 2015 and make a proper step up in my racing career.
What do you enjoy apart from Racing?
Playing cue sports, Playstation and table tennis.
Where do you draw your inspiration from?
I want to prove myself on an international stage and do my country proud, that is my source of inspiration.
How are you managing your studies along with a full-fledged career as a Racer? What is your mantra for focus?
It’s not so difficult to manage as unlike most other drivers I do not go abroad for testing very often, as funds are limited. Race weekends are maybe once every month so I am able to squeeze in decent attendance in college. Sometimes though there is a clash when examinations and race weekends are scheduled around the same time – and that is when I need to make a choice.
Share something about yourself that your fans don’t know yet.
Despite driving a lot on the track, I love driving and riding on the road. Going for long drives or just zipping around town on my motorcycle is something I continue to enjoy!
Any advice to your fans.
Of course, I strongly believe in Road Safety and I don’t drive without a seat-belt and don’t ride without a helmet! Have fun but be safe!!
You can follow Raj Bharath at
www.facebook.com/rajbracing
@RajBRacing
Coming soon www.RBRacing.com
-
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 -
FIA upgrades Madras Motor Race Track to Grade II
Chennai, 28 Nov 2014: The Madras Motor Sports Club (MMSC) is pleased to announced that the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), THE governing body for world motor sport, has granted the Madras Motor Race Track a Grade 2 license to run all international motorsport events outside of Formula 1. The Grade 2 license will enable the MMRT to host races such as Indycar, World Endurance Championship, DTM, GT Racing and so on. The MMRT are now evaluating plans to revamp the infrastructure at the circuit with a brand-new pit building housing the pit garages with a hospitality and media centre above.
The MMRT has seen numerous inspections from FIA officials over the past three years in their bid to upgrade the circuit. This includes work on the run-off areas, kerbs, Armco barriers, and fully advanced race control room. MMRT has also laid special emphasis on safety measures to make the circuit safe for competitors.
Ajit Thomas, President, MMSC, was thrilled at the prospect of the MMRT being eligible to host marquee International events. He commented, “I’m delighted that the FIA has granted Grade 2 circuit license for the MMRT and would like to thank them for the vote of confidence in the work carried out at the circuit. We have been working closely with the FIA inspectors for over three years to not only satisfy licensing requirements but also to make our circuits as safe as practically possible. Vicky (Chandhok) and our team at MMRT take immense pride in making their circuit amongst the most attractive to both competitors and motorsport promoters. This gives us the opportunity to plan ahead and look at bringing some of the most prestigious motor racing events in the world to the MMRT.”
India’s first ever FIA recognized race track, the MMRT, was first used for racing in 1990 and has been the main breeding ground for the country’s top drivers including India’s only two Formula 1 drivers, Narain Karthikeyan and Karun Chandhok.
Narain Karthikeyan, India’s first ever Formula 1 driver, commented, “The Madras Circuit is like my home track where I made my racing debut, so it will always be a special place for me! The layout is enormously challenging and I think it is enjoyed by all drivers as well as riders. The safety has come a long way from when I started back in ’92 and hopefully the new certification will provide an impetus for more international races to be held at the venue and help our young drivers’ development.”
Karun Chandhok, former Formula 1 driver and current Formula E driver, commented, “This is fantastic news for Indian motorsport as a whole. I have many fond memories of this circuit and have witnessed it improving over the years. It is important to have circuits like this which are affordable to use and are challenging for young drivers to help in their development. With the plans that are shaping up for the upgrade of the facilities, this will certainly be a great destination for championships like GT Asia, the Asian Le Mans series and the Japanese Super GT.”
Mr. Vicky Chandhok, past President of FMSCI & Vice-President, MMSC,made it clear that the MMRT has no ambitions of staging a Formula 1 race in the future and are therefore not in any competition with the Buddh International Circuit in Noida. “The BIC is a fantastic facility that brought Formula 1 to India at a huge expense. The MMRT has always been a ‘drivers circuit’ and a favourite amongst most local and international drivers for being technical and challenging. Our focus has been and will continue to be on offering an affordable testing and racing venue not just for motorsport but also for automotive manufacturers and their supplier to test at, enthusiasts to hire for track days as well as driver and rider training programs. This year we have been booked for over 230 days, which is the highest since the track was inaugurated.”
-
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 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 Heuer, Sidvin and the AVT group.
eom/Adrenna Communications press release
