INDIA in F1

Tag: Mahindra Racing Formula E

  • Roberto Merhi to race for Mahindra Racing at Jakarta

    Roberto Merhi to race for Mahindra Racing at Jakarta

    Mumbai / Banbury, May 28, 2023: Mahindra Racing today announces that Roberto Merhi will join its Formula E team as race driver for next weekend’s ABB FIA Formula E World Championship races in Jakarta.

    Roberto will race the #8 Mahindra M9Electro alongside Lucas Di Grassi in the #11.

    A mutual agreement has been reached between Oliver Rowland and the team for him to step aside for the next seven races. Roberto will race in Jakarta, enabling him to gain valuable race experience.

    Roberto, who raced for Manor Marussia F1 Team during the 2015 season, joins the Banbury based outfit after his first taste of electric racing at the Rookie Test in Berlin last month. A successful single-seater career saw the Spaniard win races across Formula Renault, Spanish F3, British F3 and Formula Renault 3.5 Series before progressing into Formula One, first as a test driver and then a competing driver. He has also raced in DTM and FIA Formula 2, before advancing into sports car and endurance racing, finishing third in the Asian Le Mans Series Drivers’ Championship in 2020.

    Roberto Merhi said: “It’s a huge honour for me to step in and represent Mahindra Racing for the races in Jakarta. I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity and I’m determined to make the most of it. I had a chance to drive the M9Electro at the rookie test in Berlin but Formula E is very different to any of the other series I’ve raced in so the learning curve will be steep. But I feel ready, excited and up for the challenge.”

    Mahindra Racing CEO, Frederic Bertrand, said: “We are delighted to welcome Roberto to the Mahindra Racing team. Roberto has impressive experience in top-level racing and a good track record in major championships. He had a great run with us at the Rookie Test in Berlin last month and we could see he had the potential to become a great asset for the Mahindra Racing team. It’s not easy to jump in mid-season, but Roberto has experience of working with the team, so I’m sure he will slot into the team brilliantly.”

    The double-header Jakarta E-Prix takes place next weekend on Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th June.

    Mahindra Racing has a strong set of partners, including Official Powertrain Partner ZF and e-fluids partner Shell. Maurice Lacroix, the luxury Swiss watchmaker, continues as the Official Timekeeper.

  • Mahindra Racing Formula E team continue to make progress in Monaco

    Mahindra Racing Formula E team continue to make progress in Monaco

    Mumbai / Banbury, May 8, 2023: Mahindra Racing Formula E team leaves round nine of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship feeling positive with their race pace after a storming start to the Monaco E-Prix by Oliver Rowland.

    Oliver lined up in 13th place on the iconic Monaco grid after an improved performance in qualifying earlier in the day. After passing seven cars in the first two laps, he dropped back a few places due to taking attack mode early. Unfortunately, during the hectic race, he made contact with the back of Mortara’s Maserati, injuring his hand. He was also hit on the side by another competitor causing a puncture, meaning he had to pit the #8 for both a nose change and a left rear wheel change. Towards the later stages of the race, Oliver was struggling too much with the pain in his hand, so he and the team decided to retire the car to stop Oliver suffering any more pain.

    Racing on his home streets, Lucas Di Grassi also made up seven places throughout the 29-lap race, crossing the line in P13 after starting in 20th place. His qualifying session was hampered by a crash in FP1, the nature of the Monaco race weekend meaning all sessions are held on one day and started towards the back of the grid. After a relatively quiet race, Lucas crossed the line in 13th place, but was promoted to 12th position after a penalty for another competitor.

    Retiring from the race with an injured hand, Oliver Rowland said: “I made a great start. I passed seven cars over the first two laps and even managed to save energy at the same time as well, so it was looking positive. I dropped back a couple of spots after using my attack mode early on, but from then on, I was purely focused on moving back up the field again. Unfortunately, I made contact with Mortara, which subsequently hurt my hand when the steering wheel bashed it. I then got hit by Rast and got a puncture so had to pit for a wheel and a front nose change which put us to the back of the pack. Once I returned to the track, I tried to carry on, but I ended up having to retire the car because I was in quite a bit of pain. Luckily no broken bones so we look ahead to Jakarta next.”

    Reflecting on his second home race, Lucas Di Grassi said: “We had a tough day, starting with FP1 with a crash making us lose critical time in the first few laps of learning the track. Then we were playing catch up. In qualifying we made some improvements, managing the first set of tyres. I lost a set of tyres because of the crash so in qualifying the first part was actually quite good. Then in the race, we started P20 and we did a good race with a very good strategy and energy saving. I managed to pass seven cars making it up to 13th, but that was the best we could do, especially with the late safety car at the end which really hurt our chances.”

    Mahindra Racing CEO, Frederic Bertrand, said: “Oliver had such a fantastic start, passing multiple cars in the opening laps, so it is frustrating that he ended up having to retire the car, but of course it is much more important that he gets his hand looked at immediately. Lucas also had a good race, he made up places to finish 13th, but the late safety car ruined any chance of us making up any more positions to score those points we are aiming for. The qualifying session was again disappointing, but it just goes to show that starting further up the grid, like Oliver did, makes it easier for us to attempt our points finishing target. We move onto Jakarta next.”

    The next race for the team is the Jakarta E-Prix double header on 3-4 June.

    Mahindra Racing has a strong set of partners, including Official Powertrain Partner ZF and e-fluids partner Shell. Maurice Lacroix, the luxury Swiss watchmaker, continues as the Official Timekeeper.

  • Jean Eric Vergne wins historic Formula E race in Hyderabad

    Jean Eric Vergne wins historic Formula E race in Hyderabad

    • Jean-Éric Vergne wins the first-ever ABB FIA Formula E World Championship race in India
    • Nick Cassidy finishes second for Envision Racing, António Félix da Costa promoted to third after investigation demotes Sébastien Buemi
    • Calamity strikes Jaguar TCS Racing as a Sam Bird collision with Mitch Evans forces both drivers to retire
    • Sell-out crowd of more than 25,000 fans attend the 2023 Greenko Hyderabad E-Prix

    HYDERABAD, Sat. 11 Feb. 2023 – Jean-Éric Vergne (DS PENSKE) held on to win an extraordinary first-ever ABB FIA Formula E World Championship race in India in front of a sellout crowd and a host of dignitaries, Bollywood celebrities and sports stars.

    Vergne fought hard in the final third of the race to stay ahead of Envision Racing pair Nick Cassidy and Sébastien Buemi, though António Félix da Costa (TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team) ultimately took third after the Swiss was penalised post-race.

    It’s Vergne’s first trip to the top step of the Formula E podium since Rome in April 2021 (Season 7) and he achieved it in style. Vergne made his way to the front of the pack on lap 15 of 32 (plus one lap following a safety car), the double champion sweeping by Buemi at the hairpin after the Jaguar TCS Racing pair removed one another from the equation two laps prior.

    That incident saw Sam Bird make a lunge on the dirty side of the track on fourth-placed Sacha Fenestraz (Nissan Formula E Team). The Brit could not slow his I-TYPE 6 in time, colliding with teammate Mitch Evans – who was in third at the time – pitching the Kiwi’s car into a spin. Both Jaguars were ultimately forced into retirement with the unlucky Fenestraz also left tumbling down the order in a race where a podium double looked a possibility for Jaguar.

    Vergne led the way from that moment but had his mirrors full of Cassidy’s Envision Racing machine as the chequered flag drew closer. The New Zealander had managed to gather up an extra four percentage points of usable energy on Vergne come the closing stages of the race. However, Vergne is regarded as the consummate Formula E fighter and used every trick in the book to keep Cassidy at bay and cross the line first in what many will regard as one of his best wins and one that will live long in the memory on Formula E’s first visit to India in front of a sold-out crowd of over 25,000 people.

    Buemi followed home in third but an overpower infringement saw him demoted to 15th spot via 17-second penalty, equivalent to a drive-through. That promoted TAG Heuer Porsche’s António Félix da Costa onto the podium in his 100th race, the Season 6 champion having started the race in 13th. Teammate Pascal Wehrlein crossed the line fourth after picking his way through the order from 12th on the grid.

    Sérgio Sette Câmara avoided trouble and climbed through the pack from 15th on the starting grid to produce NIO 333 Racing’s best result since Berlin in Season 4.

    Meanwhile, Oliver Rowland made a move for the podium on Buemi – not aware of the Swiss’ impending penalty at the time – with just a lap to go. It didn’t work out and saw him shuffled to sixth. Nevertheless, Rowland collected his first points of the season for Mahindra Racing in the team’s home race. Norman Nato steered to seventh and the TAG Heuer Fastest Lap.

    Reigning champion Stoffel Vandoorne (DS PENSKE) finished in eighth for his best result of the season so far, while André Lotterer(Avalanche Andretti Formula E) and Edoardo Mortara (Maserati MSG Racing) rounded out the top 10.

    Jake Dennis (Avalanche Andretti Formula E) was the victim of an over-enthusiastic René Rast move on lap 26 at the hairpin – the NEOM McLaren Formula E Team driver outbraking himself and rear-ending Dennis’ car. That proved costly for the Brit, who was running comfortably in fourth and on for a strong points haul – particularly given the strong finish for the other man out front in the standings, Pascal Wehrlein.

    That left Wehrlein with an extended 18-point advantage on Dennis, with Vergne leaping to third in the Drivers’ standings. TAG Heuer Porsche has taken a 23-point lead over Avalanche Andretti in the Teams’ World Championship.

    In addition to the sellout capacity crowd of more than 25,000 fans, the historic race was attended by FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem and Sri K T Rama Rao, Minister for IT, Industries & Commerce, Government of Telangana. Also enjoying the electric racing action were Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar, current Indian cricketers Shikhar Dhawan, Deepak Chahar and Yuzvendra Chahal along with his actor and choreographer wife, Dhanashree Verma. 

    Jean-Éric Vergne, No. 25, DS PENSKE, said:

    “I’m very, very happy. It was a tough race – I had to defend quite hard at the end but we somehow managed to win it. It was a clean race, no mistakes. Very happy with the win today. It’s good for everyone’s heart in our team. For the first few races it’s good to boost it with a good race like that so couldn’t be happier.

    “I like new tracks – I think it’s cool. Especially this one – it’s a lot of fun. When there is a lot of little secrets to find on the track, I probably find them quickly enough.”

    Nick Cassidy, No. 37, Envision Racing, said:

    “I mean I had a really good car today – huge thanks to all my guys. I think at the races this year we’ve been pretty good. I really feel for Mitch and Jaguar today because they’re a great partner and they’ve started the season very strongly. I think the package we have is really strong and so I’m super sorry to see them go out the race like that.

    “(On reason behind having no duels this season but getting on the podium). Apart from we’re good in races? Honestly, we’re there in quali as well. Riyadh, Mexico and here, the difference between P1 and being in the duals and being P5 has been two-tenths. There’s not a big margin between 5th and starting 10th or potentially pole. That day will come.”

    António Felix da Costa, No. 13, TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team, said:

    “It felt like it meant to be. The race actually started really well and then I got squeezed by Dennis and I lost a lot of positions. But we stayed calm and worked our way back to the front slowly, and managed our energy. It hasn’t been an easy start for me. It was an emotional day for me looking back at the now 100 races or the 99 races before and where I am and things not working out like I want them to be. I can’t be satisfied with the way I am qualifying at the moment. Having said that, I have an amazing team behind me, always pushing me and giving me the tools. So I know it’s only a matter of time before we do a better job in qualifying and obviously the car can race really well. And yeah I’m really happy I came all the way to India and got a podium in my 100th race.

    “So much happened. I got angry, I was happy, I was calm, I was stressed. But again, I worked well with the team throughout the whole race and I guess that’s the experience of 100 races if I’m honest -starting there and coming all the way here.”

    Round 5 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship is the 2023 Cape Town E-Prix on Saturday, 25 February, the first time Formula E has raced in South Africa.

  • Mahindra provides course cars to Greenko Hyderabad E-Prix

    Mahindra provides course cars to Greenko Hyderabad E-Prix

    • Mahindra & Mahindra to supply all course cars and vehicles for VIP laps this Saturday at the first ever Formula E race in India, the 2023 Greenko Hyderabad E-Prix
    • The world’s fastest-accelerating production road car – the Battista from Mahindra & Mahindra’s Automobili Pininfarina brand – will be on show to guests on the Hyderabad street circuit
    • The course cars showcase the technological advancements in EVs and the commitment of Mahindra & Mahindra to electric mobility

    HYDERABAD, India – Fri, 10 Feb. 2023: Formula E and Mahindra & Mahindra today announced that all course cars and vehicles for VIP guest laps at the inaugural 2023 Greenko Hyderabad E-Prix taking place this Saturday will be provided by Mahindra & Mahindra.

    The electric vehicle selection will consist of six course cars and eight Mahindra & Mahindra XUV4000 vehicles for VIP laps. Making its debut in India courtesy of Mahindra & Mahindra is the Battista – the pure-electric hyper GT by Italian luxury carmaker Automobili Pininfarina.

    Together, they will showcase innovations inspired by the Mahindra Racing team and developed in cars designed for road use, accelerating the development of electric mobility and the future of sustainable, luxurious transport.

    As one of the founding teams in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, Mahindra Racing has competed in all 103 Formula E races to date, securing 24 podium finishes and five race wins.

    The 2023 Greenko Hyderabad E-Prix this weekend will be a home race for Mahindra Racing where thousands of passionate fans will cheer team drivers Lucas di Grassi and Oliver Rowland in the new GEN3 –the fastest, lightest, most powerful and efficient electric race car ever built.

    Matt Scammell, Chief Commercial Officer, Formula E, said:

    “We are delighted to expand our unique relationship with Mahindra & Mahindra for this historic first race in India. Their on-track vehicles will showcase the value automakers see in developing cutting edge EV technology in the championship that can be directly transferred into their consumer models. We look forward to an exciting, competitive debut race in India and are sure everyone in the Mahindra Racing team will do all they can to entertain and excite their fans at the track and tuning in on TV.”

    Asha Kharga, Chairperson, Mahindra Racing, said: 

    “As one of the founding teams of Formula E and after racing across the world, this is a proud moment for Mahindra Racing as we come home to India for the first time, and to see Mahindra & Mahindra vehicles across the event will be the cherry on the cake. It outlines the possibilities in race to road technology that inspires our electric road cars.”

    Paolo Dellachà, CEO, Automobili Pininfarina, said:

    “We are proud to present the record-breaking Battista in India for the first time, in collaboration with our Mahindra & Mahindra friends at Mahindra Racing. This will be a true celebration of our respective innovations to lead the way in developing the pinnacle of electrified performance on road and track.”

    Showing support for its electric race team, high profile members of Mahindra & Mahindra will also be attending the race, including its Chairperson, Anand Mahindra and Managing Director and CEO, Anish Shah, as well as other special guests.

    In India, Star Sports Select 2 & Disney+ Hotstar will show all of the competitive action live from the 2023 Greenko Hyderabad E-Prix, with Disney + HotStar the destination for all the Formula E action across the weekend.

  • Mahindra Racing all set for home race at Greenko Hyderabad E-Prix

    Mahindra Racing all set for home race at Greenko Hyderabad E-Prix

    Mumbai / Banbury, February 6, 2023: Mahindra Racing is all set for the the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, the Greenko Hyderabad E-Prix – the team’s home race on Sunday.

    With free practice today and Race tomorrow, the Hyderabad E-Prix marks the first time the Formula E Championship visits India, an occasion the team have been looking forward to since the formation of the championship in 2014 Following on from rounds two and three in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia, the team are hoping to put on a good performance for their home fans, with the focus firmly on getting both the Mahindra M9Electro race cars into the points to keep the championship challenge alive.

    Celebrating the team’s home race CEO, Frederic Bertrand said: “It’s finally here! The team’s homecoming is something we have been preparing a long time for. Ever since it was announced that Formula E would head to Hyderabad, the team have been excited to be able to put on a show for our amazing Indian fans. We hope we can reward them for their support with a successful weekend. As a team, we need to make sure we are pushing to remain in the championship fight and the target for Oliver will be to get into the points. There is a lot of energy and excitement around the team heading to India so I’m hopeful that will translate to the performance on track.”

    Ahead of round four, Lucas Di Grassi said: “It is important for us to have a good race in India – not only for the fans, but for the championship as well. It’s a new track for us, as it is for everyone up and down the grid. It needs to be a good weekend for us. We are going to try very hard and push to the limit to get the best out of the car. We can’t wait to see all the Indian fans out in force to support us and we want to give them a good show.”

    Aiming for a good weekend in India, Oliver Rowland said: “Heading into Hyderabad we know where we need to improve following a difficult weekend in Diriyah. Having the home fans behind us will add to the motivation we have racing on the team’s home ground. We know they will be fully behind us and supporting us, which will give us the extra push to perform well. I am certainly aiming to score my first points of the season.”

    The team are encouraging fans to show their support for the team, bringing them positive energy and support heading into round four. The race begins at 15:00 local time on the 11th February (09:30 GMT).

    Mahindra Racing has a strong set of partners, including Official Powertrain Partner ZF and e-fluids partner Shell. Maurice Lacroix, the luxury Swiss watchmaker, continues as the Official Timekeeper.

  • Mahindra Racing, the pride of India at Formula E

    Mahindra Racing, the pride of India at Formula E

    Mahindra Racing stats in Formula E: 101 Races, 5 Wins, 24 Podiums

    Mahindra Racing has competed in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship since Season 1, representing the Indian car giant on a global sporting scale in single-seater motor racing.

    Formula E is Indian car giant Mahindra’s first foray into international single-seater racing, and it has been committed to the series since its inaugural campaign. The company is a manufacturer of electric cars, and utilises its competition in the championship as a fast-paced test-bed to develop and refine its groundbreaking electric vehicle technology through its ‘Race to Road’ programme.

    The team scored its breakthrough win in the 2016/17 campaign and in 2017/18, went on to score two further victories thanks to Swedish driver Felix Rosenqvist, who raced alongside German driver Nick Heidfeld.

    In the 2017/18 season, the team got off to a strong start before technical issues reduced Felix Rosenqvist’s title hopes to nothing more than a distant dream. The team finished fourth overall, one place behind where it finished at the end of 2016/17.

    In Season 5, the team was fronted by long-standing Formula E, and former Dragon driver Jerome d’Ambrosio as well as rookie driver Pascal Wehrlein. Another victory followed as d’Ambrosio scooped a win in Marrakesh, and was denied a second of the season by in heartbreaking fashion in Mexico City as Wehrlein saw the winner’s Moet & Chandon champagne stolen from his grasp at the last by Lucas di Grassi just meters from the finish line.

    After a strong season Season 5, Mahindra headed into the 2019/20 campaign with the new M6Electro. Jerome D’Ambrosio closed out a two-year stint with the team with 16th in the standings and four top ten finishes over the season, seeing him edge former team-mate Pascal Wehrlein’s Berlin replacement Alex Lynn by just a point. Lynn’s exploits at Tempelhof were impressive. Three Super Pole appearances were backed up with good points in the final three rounds on the way to 17th in the Drivers’ table.

    Such was the intensely competitive nature of Season 7 that Mahindra found itself down in ninth spot in the Teams’ table. A stunning maiden win on home soil for Alex Lynn – as well as an expert suplex by Team Principal Dilbagh Gill in celebration in the pit-lane – crowned a glorious weekend for the team in London. A string of five retirements in 11 races stunted Alexander Sims’ progress after an encouraging podium in Rome. He wound up ninth with Lynn finishing the season 12th in the Drivers’ running thanks to podiums in New York and Valencia, on top of that victory in the UK capital.

    It’s an all-British line-up again for the team in Season 8, with Oliver Rowland joining Alexander Sims for 2021/22. A difficult season did bring a higher finish in the team standings, but it was Mahindra’s lowest points haul since the first season. Rowland saved their best to the end in Seoul, an impressive qualifying performance saw the Brit take his first podium with the team.

    For Season 9, Rowland continues with Mahindra for Gen3 as Sims steps aside to focus on sports cars. The bespectacled Brit will be replaced by Mr Formula E and one of the most successful drivers in the series; Lucas di Grassi, as they chart a course for more silverware and consistency.

    Drivers – Oliver Rowland

    Mahindra Racing entered a technical partnership with the returning ABT Sportsline for Gen3, and Oliver Rowland returns for a second campaign with the Anglo-Indian squad, as he and the team hope to kick up a gear at the start of Formula E’s new era.

    Starting his career in karting at the age of seven, Rowland spent a decade racing in various series around the United Kingdom before progressing to Formula Renault, taking a place on the grid of the 2010 Formula Renault UK Winter Series with CRS Racing. At the same time, the British driver received funding from the Racing Steps Foundation, which helped him graduate into single-seater racing. 

    Oliver Rowland, British, born 10 Aug 1992
    57 Races, 1 win, 6 Podiums.

    Moving to Formula Renault 3.5 in 2013, Rowland finished his campaign in fourth with seven podium finishes, before taking the championship title in 2015 with Fortec Motorsports. That same year, he made his debut in Formula E with Mahindra Racing, filling in for driver Nick Heidfield in the Punta del Este E-Prix where he finished 13th. 

    After making his debut in GP2 in Silverstone the same year, Rowland competed in the series for two seasons, finishing third overall in 2017. Entering into Formula One in 2017, Rowland was signed to the role of development driver to the Renault F1 team. 
    In 2018 the Sheffield-born driver was confirmed as Williams Martini Racing’s official Junior Driver ahead of securing a full-time seat with Nissan e.dams.

    Joining Formula E full-time after one outing for Mahindra in the 2015/16 season, Rowland partnered with Sebastien Buemi for the team’s debut season. Finishing second in the teams’ championship after six podium finishes, six pole positions and 16 Super Pole qualifying appearances, the team ended the season with its first ever victory during the final race weekend in New York, which went to Rowland’s teammate Buemi.

    In his second season with Nissan e.dams, Rowland put in a consistent run of point-scoring finishes across 2019/20 that culminated in a debut victory at the penultimate round of the season in the final Berlin double-header.

    Heading into his third season in all-electric street racing, Rowland continues his strong partnership with Nissan e.dams alongside Sebastien Buemi. 

    Season 7 was a slow burn, with bad luck curtailing front-running pace – certainly for the Brit. Rowland rounded off with another podium at Tempelhof, adding to silverware in Puebla. Converting his London DNF after that tangle with Stoffel Vandoorne (Mercedes-EQ) could well have seen Rowland trouble the standings’ top three.

    Rowland moved to pastures new to complete another all-British driver line-up alongside Alexander Sims at Indian outfit Mahindra Racing for Season 8, following three seasons with Nissan e.dams. It was 14th again in the running, with a podium in Seoul the highlight.

    Drivers – Lucas di Grassi 

    Lucas di Grassi was the winner of the first-ever Formula E race – the 2014 Beijing E-Prix – and is the most successful driver in the history of the championship. For the 2021/22 season, it was pastures new at ROKiT Venturi Racing, after a seven-year association with Audi’s Formula E team came to an end.

    Adding to his storied history, the Brazilian became the first ever to reach the 100-race mark in Seoul, and di Grassi strode to yet another top six finish in the standings, with fifth spot and 126 points and a win in London to add to his collection. For Gen3, it’s all-change again, with a move to Mahindra Racing – the ultra-experienced racer tasked with adjusting to Formula E’s third great era.

    Lucas di Grassi, Brazil, born 11 Aug 1984
    101 Races, 13 Wins, 40 Podiums.

    Born in Sao Paulo in 1984, Lucas di Grassi was the first driver to commit to the series, playing a founding role in the ABB FIA Formula E Championship alongside the series’ Founder and CEO Alejandro Agag. He played a key role in the development of the original prototype car that was used as a proof-of-concept for Gen1, used from the championship’s inaugural 2014/15 season. In 2016, he became the first man in history to drive a racing car on the Arctic Ice Cap, when he took a starring role in the incredible Project Ice adventure.

    Starting out his motorsport career after driving karts at his uncle’s kart shop in Interlagos, di Grassi made his competitive karting debut at the age of 10. A journey up the single-seater ladder, as well as victory in the prestigious Macau Grand Prix in 2005, overall runner-up in GP2 Series and in 2010, a season in Formula 1 with Virgin Racing. In 2012, Lucas di Grassi became an Audi factory driver, clinching three podium finishes in the gruelling 24 Hours of Le Mans – and he’s represented the brand ever since.

    The Brazilian has driven for Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler throughout his time in Formula E, finishing third in Season 1 before taking the 2015/16 title down to the wire, narrowly losing out to Nelson Piquet Jr. It was third time lucky, though, as he overcame a 10-point deficit to claim the 2016/17 Drivers’ title in Montreal.

    Heading into the 2017/18 season as reigning champion, di Grassi once again overcame the odds and fought back after a tough start to the season, eventually placing second overall behind TECHEETAH’s Jean-Eric Vergne. He took it down to the wire once again in the final round of the 2018/19 campaign, going head-to-head with Vergne for the second consecutive year as well as Nissan e.dams’ Sebastian Buemi. Neither managed to put a stop to Vergne’s domination, however, with di Grassi rounding off the season in third place. 

    Di Grassi was one of only three full-time drivers to have finished every race in 2019/20 on the way to sixth in the Drivers’ table. His race-pace and combative style netted him the most progress, at just over six positions gained per race, of any driver. Qualifying was a thorn in the side for Audi through Season 6, and limited the Brazilian to two visits to the rostrum. For 2020/21, di Grassi remains with Audi, behind the wheel of its Audi e-tron FE07 – the German marque’s first car with an all-new in-house designed and built powertrain.   

    Away from the circuit, the Brazilian is CEO of the autonomous racing car project Roborace as well as Founder and CEO of his own electric bike start-up in Brazil. Di Grassi lives with his wife and children in Monaco, just 200 meters from the start/finish line of the famous race track.

    Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler’s current run in Formula E drew to a close with a win for its 2016/17 champion Lucas di Grassi on home soil in Berlin. A one-two in Puebla was another big moment as di Grassi steered to seventh in the Drivers’ table.

    Pastures new in Season 8, in a Silver Arrow 02 driven by a title-winning Mercedes-EQ powertrain at ROKiT Venturi Racing saw fifth in the standings, and a highlight of the race win in London plus podiums in Seoul, New York City and Diriyah. Di Grassi did assemble a late title push but fell short of ultimate champion Stoffel Vandoorne’s miserly consistency in the end.

  • Formula E Hyderabad E-Prix will be 1st Net-Zero event in the world on this scale

    Formula E Hyderabad E-Prix will be 1st Net-Zero event in the world on this scale

    • Greenko will be powering the entire 2023 Greenko Hyderabad E-Prix event with renewable energy, making it first of its kind Net Zero event in the world on this scale.
    • ABB FIA Formula E World Championship will race in India for the first time this Saturday, 11 February
    • 2023 Greenko Hyderabad E-Prix takes place on a street circuit constructed in the heart of the city
    • Driver Pascal Wehrlein leads the Drivers’ championship after Porsche power dominated the first three races for the all-new GEN3 race car – the fastest, lightest, most powerful and efficient electric race car ever built
    • Lucas di Grassi and Oliver Rowland set for the loudest cheers as Mahindra Racing competes on home soil for the first time in Formula E

    HYDERABAD, 9 Feb. 2023: Formula E will make history this Saturday (11 February) as the ABB FIA Formula E Championship comes to India for the first time with the 2023 Greenko Hyderabad E-Prix, Round 4 of the 16-race season.

    The 2.835km street circuit, constructed around the shores of the Hussain Sagar lake by the NTR Gardens, will see the first top-tier FIA World Championship motorsport in the country for a decade and will become India’s first elite electric motor racing event.

    Pascal Wehrlein, TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team driver, moved to the top of the Drivers’ standings after winning both races in the double-header in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia, thanks to an overtaking masterclass.

    But 2016/17 Formula E champion, Lucas di Grassi, and teammate Oliver Rowland are expected to attract the biggest cheers from passionate fans in the grandstand in the first home race for their team, Mahindra Racing. Di Grassi already has silverware to his name this season, sealed on his debut for Mahindra at the Mexico City season-opener, and no driver has been on the podium more than his nine in Asia.

    Lucas di Grassi, driver, Mahindra Racing, said:

    “It is important for us to have a good race in India – not only for the fans, but for the championship as well. It’s a new track for us, as it is for everyone up and down the grid. It needs to be a good weekend for us. We are going to try very hard and push to the limit to get the best out of the car. We can’t wait to see all the Indian fans out in force to support us and we want to give them a good show.”

    Oliver Rowland, driver, Mahindra Racing, said:

    “Heading into Hyderabad we know where we need to improve following a difficult weekend in Diriyah. Having the home fans behind us will add to the motivation we have racing on the team’s home ground. We know they will be fully behind us and supporting us, which will give us the extra push to perform well.”

    AS IT STANDS

    If Mahindra Racing are to take to the top step of the podium in Hyderabad, they will have two Porsche-powered teams in TAG Heuer Porsche and Avalanche Andretti to overpower, based on current form. They have dominated Formula E so far in Season 9, with the Stuttgart manufacturer’s 99X Electric Gen3 finishing one-two in every race so far.

    Andretti’s Jake Dennis set the benchmark in Mexico City with the first win of the new GEN3 era, with Pascal Wehrlein following him home. The two fought hard in Rounds 2 and 3 in Diriyah, the last time out, but the German got the better of Dennis in both races to take the top prize and a dominant win-double in Saudi Arabia and the standings lead, while Porsche still narrowly trail customer Andretti in the Teams table by two points.

    Jake Hughes (NEOM McLaren Formula E Team) sealed a maiden Julius Baer Pole Position last time out. The rookie has scored in all three rounds so far this season and has the best qualifying record of anyone on the grid. He couldn’t quite convert to silverware in the race but experienced teammate René Rast needed no second invitation to seal the team’s first podium in Formula E in Round 3.

    Jaguar TCS Racing also attracted attention in Diriyah, with a resurgent Sam Bird returning to the podium after an uncharecteristically barren spell for the veteran of more than 100 Formula E races. No driver has won more than the Briton in Asia either, with Bird’s four the benchmark – two in Diriyah, one in Putrajaya, Malaysia and another in Hong Kong.

    Before the season, some expected overtaking to be tough in the new GEN3 race car, with braking zones shortened thanks to the significant regen boost of the new car’s double powertrain. That theory was blown away in Diriyah with some 36 moves outside of ATTACK MODE position changes completed over two races.

    Round 2 winner Wehrlein steered from ninth to the top step of the podium and Dennis followed with his own drive through the pack from 11th to second. On just three occasions has a driver won from further down the grid than Wehrlein managed and it was the first time consecutive Formula E races had been won from outside the top four since Zurich and New York City back in Season 4.

    WHEN TO WATCH

    Free Practice 1 for the 2023 Greenko Hyderabad E-Prix Round 4 gets underway at 16:30 IST (11:00 GMT) on Friday 10 February.

    Free Practice 2 follows at 08:10 IST on Saturday 11 February with qualifying from 10:40 IST. Round 4 of Season 9 gets underway from 15:00 local (09:30 GMT).

    FOLLOW LIVE!

    Follow the action on-track as it happens in the brand new Race Centre. Keep across Live Timing – which includes a real-time interactive track map and the ability to follow drivers during every session of every E-Prix – plus highlights, detailed session reports, exclusive interviews, all the standings and results as well as data, insight and reaction from trackside.

    WHERE TO WATCH

    Find out how to follow the action live in every country by visiting: fiaformulae.com/en/ways-to-watch

    INDIA: Star Sports Select 2 & Disney+ Hotstar will show all of the competitive action live from the 2023 Greenko Hyderabad ePrix, with Disney + HotStar the destination for all the Formula E action across the weekend.

    EUROPE

    GERMANY: the race will be live on Formula E’s home, ProSieben. Fans will also be able to catch free practice sessions and qualifying live on Ran.de.

    UK: watch the race action live Channel 4 and catch up on all the racing via All4. Viewers will also be able to watch all sessions live on Channel 4 Sport YouTube. Eurosport 2 will also be covering both qualifying and race live, whilst Eurosport.com will also bring UK based fans dedicated coverage from all sessions.

    FRANCE: fans can catch race action on La Chaine L’Equipe. Eurosport 2 will show the race live whilst Eurosport.com will be showing all sessions live.

    ITALY: the race will be live on Mediaset’s Channel 20, with all sessions available live on SportMediaset.it Sky Sports will also show race sessions live across Sky Sports platforms, with dedicated news coverage across the weekend.

    NETHERLANDS: watch on Ziggo Sport and Ziggo Sport Select. Eurosport 2 will also be providing live coverage across the weekend on linear and digital channels. 

    REST OF EUROPE

    Across the remainder of Europe (excl. Italy), all sessions will be live across Eurosport’s linear and digital platforms. Eurosport will provide bespoke, live coverage of the opening race on Eurosport 2, whilst all sessions will be live on Discovery + / Eurosport.com and Eurosport Extra. These paltforms will also provide a one-stop destination for all Formula E fans’ catch-up needs.

    AMERICAS

    USA: watch the race live on CBS Sports Network. All sessions will be live on CBSSports.com and CBS Sports HQ.

    CANADA: TVA Sports and TSN 5 will show all the race action from Hyderabad in French and English respectively.

    MEXICO: complete coverage is on Fox Sports 3, Claro Sports, and Azteca Deportes, with Claro Sports providing further coverage across Latin America.

    AFRICA

    SOUTH AFRICA: catch all of the live action from qualifying and race sessions on SuperSport Motorsport.

    MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA

    Qualifying and race will be live on Saudi Sport Company’s (SSC) linear channel SSC 2 as well as their digital platform shahid.net.

    Across the Middle East and North Africa, Dubai Sports will be showcasing qualifying and race.

    ASIA

    CHINA: Formula E’s digital partnerships continue with HUYA, BiliBili, Weibo, Kuaishou and Douyin covering all sessions live, with live race action on Guangdong Sports linear channel.

    SOUTH EAST ASIA: SpoTV will be providing full coverage of practice, qualifying and the race.

    JAPAN: Viewers will be able to catch all the action from qualifying and the race s on J-Sports 3, with BS Fuji providing dedicated highlights coverage.

    INDONESIA: Catch the race live on iNews, with dedicated coverage across MNC platforms.

    AUSTRALIA: Formula E continues the broadcast partnership with Stan Sports, who will bring live coverage of all sessions on the Stan Sports platform. 9GO will wrap up the weekend with highlights for fans in Australia.

    NEW ZEALAND: catch all of the action, live on Sky Sports 5.

  • Leading Indian energy company Greenko sponsors Hyderabad E-Prix: Formula E

    Leading Indian energy company Greenko sponsors Hyderabad E-Prix: Formula E

    • First-ever ABB FIA Formula E World Championship race in India will be sponsored by Greenko, one of the world’s leading energy transition and decarbonisation solutions companies
    • 2023 Greenko Hyderabad E-Prix takes place on Saturday 11 February and features the all-new GEN3 – the fastest, lightest, most powerful and efficient electric race car ever built
    • 22 drivers from 11 teams including Mahindra Racing, Jaguar TCS Racing, TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team, NEOM McLaren Formula E Team and Maserati MSG Racing will be competing on the 2.83km street circuit in Hyderabad

    HYDERABAD, 9 Feb 2023 – Formula E and Ace Nxt Gen, the promoter of the first ABB FIA Formula E World Championship race in India, today announced that Greenko will be the title partner of the 2023 Greenko Hyderabad E-Prix. Greenko was announced as Title Sponsor on Jan 27.

    Greenko Group was founded in 2006 and is one of the world’s leading energy transition and decarbonisation company. As an industry leader the company is building, owning and operating high-quality renewable energy assets replacing fossil fuels with integrated decarbonised energy.

    As the title partner of the historic first FIA-sanctioned electric world championship motorsport race in India, Greenko is leading the way towards a decarbonised and sustainable future. Greenko’s core values align with the mission of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship of accelerating towards a clean energy future.

    Greenko will fully power the event with renewable energy, in line with Formula E’s net zero carbon strategy and RE100 commitment to achieve 100% renewable energy for the championship.

    Fans attending the 2023 Greenko Hyderabad E-Prix will see home favourites Mahindra Racing and Jaguar TCS Racing compete against two iconic motorsport names – NEOM McLaren Formula E and Maserati MSG Racing – who join the Formula E grid for the first time from this season.

    The 11 teams and 22 drivers will be competing in the all-new GEN3 race car. The GEN3 is a huge leap in technological development and innovation with engineers at the FIA and Formula E pushing the boundaries of EV development.

    Capable of a 200mph (322kph) top speed, the GEN3 is 53kg lighter than the GEN2 with a smaller chassis optimised for street racing. An additional front powertrain adds 250kW to the 350kW at the rear, more than doubling the regenerative capacity of the previous GEN2 car to 600kW, with more than 40% of the energy used in-race regenerated under braking.

    Anil Chalamalasetty, Founder of Greenko Group and Ace Group, said:

    “We are delighted to be partnering with an iconic race, India’s first ever Formula E World Championship in association with the Govt of Telangana and FIA, with support from the Govt of India. We are committed to combat climate change and lead the way for global decarbonisation. Greenko will be powering the entire 2023 Greenko Hyderabad E-Prix event with renewable energy, making it first of its kind Net Zero event in the world on this scale. I am excited that one of the world’s greenest cities will host the greenest race, under the dynamic leadership of Hon’ble Minister K T Rama Rao. We look forward to witness history in the making, as India drives towards a sustainable future on 11 February 2023 on the streets of Hyderabad.”

    Alberto Longo, Co-Founder & Chief Championship Officer, Formula E, said:

    “We welcome Greenko as sponsor of this historic first Formula E race in India. The 2023 Greenko Hyderabad E-Prix promises to be a milestone event for motorsport fans across India, and for fans tuning in around the world. Greenko will have a global platform to showcase their sustainability credentials as Hyderabad joins iconic world cities such as London, Berlin, Diriyah, Mexico City, Rome and Monaco in hosting the pinnacle of electric motor racing.”     

  • Pole and podium for Mahindra in Mexico: Formula E

    Pole and podium for Mahindra in Mexico: Formula E

    Mumbai / Banbury, January 15, 2023: Mahindra Racing started Season 9 of the FIA ABB Formula E Championship in stunning style this weekend as Lucas Di Grassi clinched the first pole position of the Gen3 era and finished third in a fantastic opening race in Mexico City.

    Starting from pole, Lucas held the lead through two safety cars before dropping to second behind eventual winner, Jake Dennis. After a tense battle with Pascal Wehrlein, Lucas slipped to third, but held on to the lead of a five-car train that were right on his tail throughout the latter part of the race. He crossed the line third, grabbing the team’s first podium in 2023 and Lucas’ 40th podium in Formula E history.

    Oliver Rowland had a more difficult race, struggling with the pace of the car and rear tyre degradation in qualifying, making it a mammoth task to even get into the points. He crossed the line P13 in the #8 Mahindra M9Electro.

    Speaking after the race, CEO Frederic Bertrand said: “I think it’s been the dream weekend you could want as a Team Principle starting with a new team. We managed the weekend well so it’s very satisfying getting pole and being on the podium at the end. Ollie also came back into the game after a difficult qualifying, he had good pace towards the end. A mega result for the team but we need to make sure we can do this at the rest of the events. It’s a great achievement for Mahindra Racing but also all the partners who have worked so hard on creating the Gen3 car. ZF has done a great job on the powertrain and Tech Mahindra have supported us in the performance of the car. It’s great to see all our sponsors sharing this result with us.”

    After getting his first pole and podium for Mahindra Racing, Lucas Di Grassi said: “What happened today was like a Mexican miracle. To be on pole and to be on the podium and going home with 18 points after a tough beginning to the season is a testimony to the hard work the team are putting in to make the car the best we can. I gave it my all today to try and make the team proud. I’m very happy to leave here with this result, it feels like a victory to us. But this is just the beginning. We need more consistent results and we have got to work hard for this.”

    Commenting on his race, Oliver Rowland said: “It’s been a pretty tough weekend here in Mexico. I struggled quite a lot in practice and qualifying. We changed a lot for the race, which was a little bit better, but still not perfect. It’s disappointing to not score any points here, but hopefully we can learn from what happened this weekend. Obviously Lucas did a great job and got some good solid points for the team and hopefully we can move forward in Saudi.

    This result marks a sensational start to Season 9 and the Gen3 era for the Indian-flagged, UK-based team. The aim is now to continue this run of form into the rest of the season with the next round taking place in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia in just two weeks’ time on 27-28 January.

    Mahindra Racing has a strong set of partners, including Official Powertrain Partner ZF and e-fluids partner Shell. Maurice Lacroix, the luxury Swiss watchmaker, continues as the Official Timekeeper.

  • Jehan Daruvala Joins Mahindra Racing Formula E Team

    Jehan Daruvala Joins Mahindra Racing Formula E Team

    Banbury, 30 Nov 2022: Mahindra Racing today announced the signing of single-seater ace Jehan Daruvala as the team’s Reserve Driver for Season 9 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship. The 24-year-old racer is the first and only Indian F2 race winner, and recently completed three F1 tests with McLaren.

    In his role at Mahindra Racing, Jehan will spend time at the team’s Banbury HQ, working on the simulator alongside engineers, providing car development and race support for drivers Lucas Di Grassi and Oliver Rowland. There are plans for him to attend some races, including the team’s inaugural home ePrix in Hyderabad, India scheduled for February 2023.

    Jehan, a four-time Formula 2 race winner and multiple-time podium sitter, has enjoyed an impressive single-seater career. He made a swift rise up the junior formula ladder to step up to the FIA Formula 3 Championship in 2019, where he achieved two wins and finished third in the championship in his rookie year. He was then promoted to FIA Formula 2, where he has been making an impact on track for the past three seasons. In 2021, he came third in the F3 Asian Championship, racing for Indian outfit Mumbai Falcons. He achieved three race wins and a further five podiums, as well as three pole positions and fastest laps.

    Photo: Mahindra Racing

    Speaking about the signing, Asha Kharga, Chairperson, Mahindra Racing, stated, “We are delighted to welcome Jehan to our team. As a founding member, Mahindra Racing has diligently worked towards promoting Formula E globally and we are pleased to bring a young, accomplished Indian race driver to this fantastic sport. Jehan, with his experience and results across single-seaters, will add a great wealth of knowledge to our development program. With Formula E’s debut race in India, this is an especially exciting year for us, and we are excited to give the Indian fans a truly global experience.”

    Speaking about joining the Mahindra Racing team, Jehan Daruvala, said, “To be a part of an Indian motorsport team is a dream come true. Formula E is very competitive, and I am really excited about this new chapter of my career. Season 9 promises to be very exciting with the all-new Gen 3 car and I am looking forward to learning and contributing, especially to car development and supporting the team. Mahindra Racing’s pioneering efforts in promoting sustainability globally are commendable and I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute.”

    Mahindra Racing make this signing at the dawn of a new era in the FIA Formula E World Championship. Season 9 will see the debut of the all-new Gen 3 car, as well as three exciting new race locations. Following the renewal of Rowland’s contract and the signing of Formula E World Champion Lucas Di Grassi, the team looks to make a return to the front.

    Mahindra Racing has a strong set of partners, including powertrain partner ZF and e-fluids partner Shell. Maurice Lacroix, the luxury Swiss watchmaker, continues as the Official Timekeeper.

    About Mahindra Racing

    Mahindra Racing is a founding team – and the only Indian team – to compete in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, the world’s first all-electric street racing series. Mahindra Racing has an impressive stats sheet and is a multi-race winning outfit after scoring its breakthrough victory at the Berlin E-Prix in 2017. The squad is committed not only to pushing the limits of technology and innovation in the electric vehicle space, but to addressing the impact of climate change; it was the first Formula E team to be awarded the FIA Environmental Accreditation Three-Star rating and is certified Net Zero Carbon footprint since inception, demonstrating best practice and excellence in sustainability.

    About ABB FIA Formula E World Championship

    The ABB FIA Formula E World Championship brings intense and unpredictable all-electric racing to the heart of iconic cities around the world. With more automotive manufacturers on the grid than any other motorsport, the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship is not only one of the most compelling racing series on the planet but also an unparalleled proving ground for race-to-road electric vehicles and sustainable mobility technology.