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Tag: Mahindra Racing
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Mahindra MGP3O Bikes to Debut in FIM CEV Repsol Championship
A file photo from Mahindra Racing. Mumbai, 17 March 2014: Mahindra Racing will extend its international racing programme to include the competitive FIM CEV International Championship in 2014. The ground-breaking Indian constructor will supply two MGP3O Moto3™ racers to the Spanish Mahindra TMR Competicion team for a new programme in the Dorna-run, Spain-based series that has become the main feeder of new riders into Grand Prix motorcycle racing.
Mahindra Racing has been competing as a factory team in the Moto3 World Championship, part of the MotoGP™ series, since its inception in 2012. But this year the factory pairing of Portuguese Miguel Oliveira and Australian Arthur Sissis are joined by six ‘customer’ MGP3O bikes in the World Championship. The addition of two further bikes in the CEV programme is aimed to assist with the development and set-up of the MGP3O, while also giving Mahindra the opportunity to assess some exciting new racing talent.
The Mahindra TMR Competicion team has secured the services of 17-year-old Spanish rider Albert Arenas and exciting 15-year-old Italian Stefano Manzi. Both riders are bright prospects who come to Mahindra with excellent pedigree: Arenas was a race winner in the CEV Championship in 2013 while ex-Red Bull Rookie Manzi won a race in the CIV Italian Moto3 Championship.
“Our new involvement in the CEV series is an exciting addition to our growing racing programme,” explains Mr SP Shukla, Chairman of Mahindra Racing and President of Mahindra Group Strategy. “In addition to the technical benefits, it gives us the chance to keep an eye on new emerging talent in motorcycle racing. Mahindra’s corporate philosophy of ‘Rise’ is perfectly embodied in this new initiative which seeks to help realize the potential of young riders. We will be keeping a close eye on the progress of Albert and Stefano in Spain.”
“It has been a very busy winter for us,” adds Mahindra Racing CEO Mufaddal Choonia. “The excellent performance of the MGP3O in the World Championship led to a lot of interest from customer teams and so it will be great to see eight Mahindra bikes on the grid in Qatar.
Adding Mahindra TMR Competicion’s CEV programme makes sense for us as it is a great opportunity to gain even more data from our bike that will feed into our development programme. It also enables us to assess the Moto3 stars of the future. We had great success with our Italian racing programme, winning the 2013 Constructors’ and Riders’ titles, and I hope that Mahindra TMR Competicion can replicate that in Spain.”
Mahindra Racing’s World Championship season gets underway on Sunday 23 March in Qatar while the CEV International Championship begins on 6 April in Jerez.
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Gaurav Gill/Musa Sherif thrill the crowds; Ghosh/ Naik win INRC title
Tumkur, 10 Nov 2013: Speed maestro Gaurav Gill and experienced navigator Musa Sherif topped the time sheets and cheered the crowds with their thrilling drifts and daring speed runs in the SUV class as Mahindra Adventure Rally team but all eyes were on reigning National champions Amittrajit Ghosh and co-driver Ashwin Naik, who clocked steady timings. Sporting MRF colours, the duo clinched their second consecutive National title as the IMG 39th K-1000 rally, the fourth round of the Indian National Rally Championship (INRC), concluded near here on Sunday.
Driving a Mahindra XUV 50, the newly-crowned Asia Pacific Rally Champion Gill, has to be satisfied with the SUV Rally Championship title. He is not in contention for the INRC title as he entered a non-INRC class. Teammates Lohitt Urs and co-driver Bonnie Thomas finished second. Malaysian rally ace and former WRC (production) and APRC winner Karamjit Singh and co-driver Jagdev Singh, who set the best times after Gill in their factory-prepared Polo R2 won the Indian Rally Championship.
Driving a Mitsubishi Lancer Cedia in Group N 1600 class, Ghosh and Naik clocked 1hr, 34 mins and 46.6 seconds. Rahul Kantharaj and Vivek Bhat, who were third overnight, took the second place pushing Prithvi Dominic and Pruthivi Sthal to third.
Ghosh will be out of country and will be missing the final round at Chikmaglur next month due to last-minute change in the dates. “I am very happy to clinch the championship here. We were under tremendous pressure but we managed to drive safely and clock steady times,” said the Kolkota rallyist, whose father Arindam Ghosh won the K-1000 in 1981.
Driving a Volkswagen Polo rally car in the INRC 1600cc class, championship leader Arjun Rao and co-driver Satish Rajagopal, who were trailing Phalguna Urs and Anoop Kumar by a narrow margin yesterday, managed to gain 17 seconds in SS 8 to pip them to second place. Sirish Chandran and co-driver Nikhil Pai of Slideways Industries, also in a Volkswagen Polo rally car, came third.
In the Junior INRC class, Suhem MK and navigator Jeevarathinam came first followed by Aroor Viram Rao and co-driver Somayya AG. Rohan Pawar and Arjun Mehta finished third while Championship leader Asad Khan and co-driver Zayne Asrar could manage only a sixth place.
Ten cars out of the 37 that took the starting flag failed to finish the rally. The fifth and final round of the INRC will be held at Chikmaglur on Dec 6, 7 and 8.
Provisional Results (unaudited):
INRC Overall / 2000cc: 1. Amittrajit Ghosh / Ashwin Naik (Cedia) 1hr, 34mins, 46.6 secs; 2. Rahul Kanthraj / Vivek Bhatt 1:36:39.2. 3. Arjun Rao / Satish Rajagopal (VW Polo) 01:37:36.0.
INRC / 2000cc: 1. Amittrajit Ghosh / Ashwin Naik (Cedia) 1hr, 34mins, 46.6 secs; 2. Rahul Kanthraj / Vivek Bhatt 1:36:39.2. 3. Pruthvi Dominic / Purthivi Sthal (Cedia) 1:45:45.1.
INRC 1600cc:1. Arjun Rao / Satish Rajagopal (VW Polo) 01:37:36.0; 2. Phalguna V Urs / Anoop Kumar DS (VW Polo) 01:37:37.4; 3. Sirish Chandran / Nikhil Pai (VW Polo, Slidways Industries) 01:37:45.1.
JINRC: 1. Suhem MK / J Jeevarathinam 1:40:49.7; 2. Aroor Vikram Rao / Somayya AG 1:42:45.6; 3. Rohan Pawar / Arjun Mehta 1:44:54.4.
SUV NRC:1. Gaurav Gill / Musa Sherif (Mahindra Adventure Rally) 1:30:56.3; 2. Lohitt Urs / Bonnie Thomas (Mahindra Adventure Rally) 01:35:24.5.
IRC:1. Karamjit Singh / Jagdev Singh (VW Polo R2, Slideways Industries) 1:31:50.4; 2. Sumit Panjabi / Prakhyath Shirole (Cedia) 1:53:36.51.
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Lorenzo delivers for Yamaha; Mahindra riders finish in points
San Marino, 15 Sept 2013: On a day when Lorenzo was in unbeatable form for Yamaha Factory Racing, Indian outfit Mahindra’s riders Miguel Oliveira and Efrén Vázquez finished seventh and 12th in Sunday’s San Marino and Rimini Riviera Grand Prix – both claiming more valuable championship points, but both disappointed to be denied better results by issues that spiked their guns.
Meanwhile, Yamaha Factory Racing said on its site about the victory on Sunday : “Yamaha Factory Racing’s Jorge Lorenzo delivered a masterful performance today to win the San Marino Grand Prix in stunning form. The victory, his sixth successive Italian Grand Prix win, was delivered after a 28 lap race of inch perfect riding from t
Rossi of Yamaha congratulates winner Lorenzo (right) on Sunday. Photo courtesy Yamaha Factory Racing. he reigning world champion.
“Starting from second on the grid, Lorenzo out dragged championship rival and pole sitter Marc Marquez to the first corner, taking the hole shot into turn one. He proved immediately impossible to follow, opening up a gap of just over a second on the first lap and keeping the pressure up as the race wound on. He was quick to build a comfortable gap to the chasing pack that was unbroken to the line, allowing him to claim his fifth Grand Prix win of the season,” the Yamaha site added.
A Mahindra press release said: Oliveira (18, from Portugal) was confident of a strong top five result as he held his place in a fierce group disputing fourth, holding his final attack in reserve for the closing stages of the 23-lap race round the 4.226-km Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli. But even before the halfway stage he was stricken with painful arm-pump problems that made it an ordeal even to finish.
Even so, he fought to the end, finishing seventh in a tight group of five riders. Although Luis Salom had edged away for fourth by just over half a second, fifth to eighth places were covered by six tenths.Spanish star Efrén Vázquez (27) had a harder job, after qualifying on the fifth row of the grid. He too was battling for inches in a big gang of Moto3™ riders, but a gear-shifting error meant he was also not able to fight to his maximum.The Mahindra MGP3O is in its first racing season, after being designed and developed in record time over the winter, and the 250cc single-cylinder four-stroke machine’s instant speed and reliability made it a serious contender even in first prototype form. Today’s result brings the only Indian marque in international motorcycle racing closer still to second overall in the Constructor Championship, only 14 points away from the well-established Kalex-KTM.It was the first outing also for customer Mahindra MGP3O machines, after Ambrogio Racing switched to Mahindra for this race. Brad Binder finished 18th, just out of the points, with team-mate Luca Amato 24th, one place ahead of Mahindra wild card Andrea Locatelli.Today’s race was won by KTM rider Alex Rins, his fourth in the 12-race-old season. The next round is at Aragon in Spain in two weeks.MIGUEL OLIVEIRA – seventh place“I am quite disappointed. The bike was good, but my race was a real struggle. I suffered from arm-pump, with still 15 laps to go. The same thing happened to me last year at this track, but never anywhere else. At the start I could do a great lap time, and I was trying not to lose the second group fighting for third. One rider got away, but Salom in front was not pushing hard. I was stuck behind him for some laps, but when my arm stiffened I couldn’t defend myself or attack. If not for that, we should have finished fourth.”EFRÉN VÁZQUEZ – 12th place“That was the hardest race of the season for me, and it is a shame because the Mahindra and I had the pace for a better result, and to finish at least at the front of my group and in the top ten. What made it impossible was I made some mistakes shifting, and sometimes I arrived at a corner in the wrong gear, which was a bit dangerous. I tried my best, but I think we deserved better. It was really difficult to finish where we did.”MUFADDAL CHOONIA – CEO, Mahindra Racing“To be frank we are feeling slightly disappointed. Our real position is top five in every race. The difference between fourth and eighth was very small, nothing to choose. We lost two positions on the last two laps. Miguel developed a pain in his forearm as happened to him last year on this track, so he couldn’t push that last step. Now we look forward to the next race in Aragon.”About Mahindra RacingMahindra Racing became the first Indian team to participate in the FIM MotoGP™ World Motorcycle Racing Championship in 2011 and the Italian National Motorcycle Racing Championship (CIV) in 2012.Racing in the Moto3™ class in MotoGP, Mahindra Racing entered the 2013 season with its own new 4-stroke, single-cylinder, 250cc motorcycle: the Mahindra MGP3O, developed with experienced Swiss firm Suter Racing Technology AG. Experienced Spanish rider Efrén Vázquez (27, from Bilbao) is teamed with exciting Portuguese teenager Miguel Oliveira (18, from Pragal near Lisbon). The team has been recording consistent Top 5 finishes and has already achieved a pole position and two circuit lap records in the first 8 rounds of the World Championship.At the opening round in Qatar, the Mahindra duo had a dream debut with a double Top 10 result for the only Indian team in Grand Prix motorcycle racing. In the Catalunya round, Vázquez crossed the line in fifth and Oliveira was sixth; this double Top 6 being the best result for Mahindra Racing so far, as a pair. Riding to perfection at the Assen Round, Oliveira was just inches from scoring the team’s historic first podium, when he crossed the line in fourth place just 0.096 seconds from third, and 0.378 behind the leader. In Sachsenring, the team scored another double top six finish. The team continues to be in the Top 3 in the Constructor’s rankings.In the 2012 CIV season, Mahindra Racing competed in the 125 GP Class and became the first team from India to win an international motorsport event, eventually recording six victories from eight races and securing the Constructors’ Title. In the 2013 CIV season, the team has entered the Moto3 (250cc – 4 stroke) class with talented riders Andrea Locatelli (16, from Alzano Lombardo) and Michael Rinaldi (17, Rimini, Emilia-Romagna). The Mahindra riders have already achieved 7 podium finishes in 8 Rounds so far in this season, with the best results being the double podiums with 1st and 2nd finishes at Round 5 in Misano and Round 7 in Imola. Mahindra Racing currently leads the Constructor’s standings with a wide margin.Mahindra’s bold decision to take on the world’s best at the highest level of motorcycle racing won the team prestigious awards such as the ‘ZigWheels Motorsport Award of the Year, 2012’, and the NDTV Car and Bike Awards ‘Mobil 1 Motorsport Award of the Year, 2012’.ends -
5-round Indian National TSD Rally calendar released
Chennai, 11 Sept 2013: The Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India (FMSCI) on Wednesday announced the calendar for the 2nd year of the highly popular Indian National TSD Rally Championship 2013. This championship will be run under the TSD (Time, Speed, Distance) format of rallying, with the objective being to maintain precise times and average speeds on various segments of a predefined route. Leading Indian manufacturer Mahindra have already confirmed their support by supplying 6 cars for the season, a press release from Adrenna Communications said.
Last year, JK Tyre entered the rally scene after a long gap and sponsored the TSD championship which soon became a popular event.
File photo of 2012 winners of Indian National TSD Rally championship. Photo by JK Tyre TSD rallying in india is extremely popular as you don’t have to prepare a Special vehicle for this all it needs is a good navigator and coordination between driver and navigator. Any cars/SUV having a valid registration in India (RTO) may participate. The total distance of the rally is set at a distance of minimum 175 Km and maximum of 200 Km.
FMSCI President Vicky Chandhok said that the Federation is excited about the second year of the TSD Rallying championship after a successful first year. He said, “Our first year of the TSD Rallying Championship was received very well and that is why we are keen to promote it again this year. The interesting thing about TSD is that it is the only form of motorsport where speed is not a priority but rather precision and is a great stepping stone for rally enthusiasts. We had good manufacturers support last year and we hope to get more of them involved this year as well.
“The beauty of this championship is that any car can participate and no modification is necessary. It connects with the grassroots level of the sport and is hugely popular. We are keen to continue to promote awareness of the sport and confident that this will reach a completely new audience. We would like to thank the organizing clubs for stepping in and taking on the responsibility to ensure we have another successful year.” added Chandhok.
The 2013 Indian National (TSD) Rally Championship will consist of 5 rounds with the first round taking place in Nashik. There will be two main categories, namely, Pro Expert and Pro Stock. The cars need not be altered or modified as it is a TSD format. Each car will be fitted with Transponders, GPS, Trip Meter and digital cameras for backup times and verification etc.
Round 1 of the 2013 TSD championship will be held in Nashik on September 28-29. This will be followed by rallies in Chikmagalur, Coimbatore and Bangalore.
The calendar for the 2013 TSD Championship will be as follows:
Round 1 : September 28-29 : Nashik
Round 2 : October 19-20 : Chikmagalur
Round 2 : November 16-17 : Coimbatore
Round 3 : December 7-8 : Bangalore
Round 1 : December 20-21 : Coimbatore
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Mahindra riders finish 5th and 6th: MotoGP 3
Circuit de Catalunya, 16 June 2013: The Mahindra pair Efrén Vázquez and Miguel Oliveira finished fifth and sixth in today’s Catalunyan Grand Prix. The double top six is the only Indian international motorcycle racing team’s best result so far, earning valuable points to improve the all-new MGP3O machine’s strong standing in the championships, a press release said.
The race was a personal triumph for Vázquez. The 26-year-old racer from Bilbao in northern Spain missed the last two races after breaking his collarbone in practice in France. Still not fully healed, he gritted his teeth and even took the lead mid-race. Still close to the leaders after 22 gruelling laps, fifth was his best finish of the season.
Oliveira (18, from Portugal) started from the front row for the second time this year, and played a strong part in the seven-strong breakaway. By the end he had lost a couple of seconds on his team-mate, but held his pace to win a strong fight for sixth.
It was an important race for the team and the motorcycle. Designed and built in just six months the first Mahindra MGP3O prototype proved not only reliable from the start, but also impressively competitive. The bike for round six in Catalunya was a first development step. Upgraded internal parts and a new muffler have improved engine performance, while refined bodywork has smoothed the aerodynamics.
Both riders felt the advantage, proving development is in the right direction; and the result moved Mahindra tantalisingly closer to second overall in the constructors’ table.
The next round is in two weeks, where the Dutch TT is held on a Saturday at the historic Assen venue.
EFRÉN VÁZQUEZ – Fifth Place
I am very happy with this race even though I couldn’t fight for the podium right until the end. Fighting in the first group demonstrates the level of our performance with the new bike. The setting of the bike was perfect. My main issue was my shoulder. I need more time to let it completely recover because at the end of the race it was difficult to move. It was difficult to ride in such a big battle when I am not at 100 percent. After five or six laps my strength was dropping and the pain increasing. Finally I could be fifth: a very positive result because I am not so far from the first group.
MIGUEL OLIVEIRA – Sixth Place
It was an okay race – I got caught up battling with Jack Miller and we both lost touch with the front group. It was a bit difficult to fight today, but it was important to finish and I am happy we could still get sixth; and sixth in the championship is not bad. Maybe I could have done better if everything had gone 100%, but racing is like that and I am happy that we are in good shape for the next races.
MUFADDAL CHOONIA – Mahindra Racing CEO
It was a very good performance from the boys today. I wouldn’t say I am totally happy, in spite of a double top six. I think we could have finished a couple of places higher had it not been forEfrén’s shoulder, which really hindered him in the second half of the race. It was great to see him leading the race and taking the fight to the rest, but it was difficult to maintain his pace. He was in real pain when he came back into the box – I am very pleased with his effort and determination today. Miguel got caught up with another rider and at a circuit like Catalunya it is very difficult to catch up again once you lose the slipstream. The updates that we had on the bike following the test in Mugello worked very well. This is a good sign for the future and shows we are working in the right direction.
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About Mahindra Racing
1.2
Mahindra Racing became the first Indian team to participate in the FIM MotoGP™ World Motorcycle Racing Championship in 2011 and the Italian National Motorcycle Racing Championship (CIV) in 2012.
Racing in the Moto3™ class in MotoGP, Mahindra Racing entered the 2013 season with its own new 4-stroke, single-cylinder, 250cc motorcycle: the Mahindra MGP3O, developed with experienced Swiss firm Suter Racing Technology AG. Experienced Spanish rider Efrén Vázquez (26, from Bilbao) is teamed with exciting Portuguese teenager Miguel Oliveira (18, from Pragal near Lisbon). At the opening round in Qatar, the duo finished with a best-ever double Top 10 result for the only Indian team in Grand Prix motorcycle racing. In Round 2 in Austin, Oliveira finished a superlative fifth while Vázquez claimed 14th place. Celebrating a third successive top ten finish in Round 3 at Jerez, Vázquez claimed eighth place. At Round 4 in Le Mans, Oliveira secured a front row start by qualifying second.
In the 2012 CIV season, Mahindra Racing competed in the 125 GP Class and became the first team from India to win an international motorsport event, eventually recording six victories from eight races and securing the Constructors’ Championship. In the 2013 CIV season, the team has entered the Moto3 (250cc – 4 stroke) class with talented riders Andrea Locatelli (16, from Alzano Lombardo) and Michael Rinaldi (17, Rimini, Emilia-Romagna). Locatelli ended Rounds 1 and 2 with a fantastic twin podium finish. While winning the first, he finished the second in third position. Rinaldi finished eighth in the first encounter and a respectable sixth in the second.
Mahindra’s bold decision to take on the world’s best at the highest level of motorcycle racing won the team prestigious awards such as the ‘ZigWheels Motorsport Award of the Year, 2012’, and the NDTV Car and Bike Awards ‘Mobil 1 Motorsport Award of the Year, 2012’.
For further information please visit: www.mahindraracing.com.
About Mahindra
The Mahindra Group focuses on enabling people to rise through solutions that power mobility, drive rural prosperity, enhance urban lifestyles and increase business efficiency.
A USD 16.2 billion multinational group based in Mumbai, India, Mahindra employs more than 155,000 people in over 100 countries. Mahindra operates in the key industries that drive economic growth, enjoying a leadership position in tractors, utility vehicles, after-market,information technology and vacation ownership. In addition, Mahindra enjoys a strong presence in the agribusiness, aerospace, components, consulting services, defence, energy, financial services, industrial equipment, logistics, real estate, retail, steel, commercial vehicles and two wheeler industries.
In 2012, Mahindra featured on the Forbes Global 2000 list, a listing of the biggest and most powerful listed companies in the world. In 2013, the Mahindra Group received the Financial Times ‘Boldness in Business’ Award in the ‘Emerging Markets’ category.
Visit us at www.mahindra.com.
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Efren Vazquez-of Mahindra Racing who finished 5th in Catalunya GP ahead of his teammate. A Mahindra Racing photo. -
Mahindras’ Oliveira claims front row: Moto GP
Circuit de Catalunya, 15 June 2013: Mahindra rider Miguel Oliveira claimed his second front-row start of the year for Sunday’s Catalunyan GP. Team-mate Efren Vazquez will start directly behind him, qualifying a best-yet sixth to put international motorcycle racing’s only Indian team in a strong position for tomorrow’s race.
Rising teenage Portuguese star Oliveira is fresh from fourth place in Italy after challenging throughout. The more experienced Spaniard Vazquez is back after pulling out of that race, recovering from collar-bone surgery.
Both are riding the first development version of the Mahindra MGP3O Moto3™ machine. Engine performance and aerodynamics have both been enhanced as development of the brand-new bike continues apace. The white-and-red streamliner is in only its sixth race.
Today’s qualifying continues a positive trend for the Mahindra squad. Six months after the bike first hit the drawing board, shake-down tests proved speed and reliability; results have improved race by race. At the same time the first developments were undergoing thorough tests, before finding their way to the race-track at Catalunya.
The result underlines Mahindra’s growing credibility and status in the paddock, and has further quickened interest in the machine from other teams, interested in the prospect of running the MGP3O in next year’s series.
“We have the infrastructure for supplying the MGP3O to other Moto3 teams next year as per the Moto3 regulations for 2014,” explains Mahindra Racing CEO Mufaddal Choonia. “It’s quite an exciting time in the paddock because we are getting approaches from a number of teams interested in Mahindra and the possibility of using the MGP3O as their official bike next season. And it would be extremely satisfying to see more Mahindra MGP3Os on the grid. It would certainly make us proud.”
Tomorrow’s race is the sixth of 17 rounds in the Moto3 championship.
MIGUEL OLIVEIRA – Third place, 1’51.540
After free practice we made some changes to the bike, and I was in a good group so I could get a good lap.Tomorrow will be difficult for sure – another big group fight, and tough over 23 laps. I have to be smart and conserve my strength. While the team has been doing a good job developing the bike, I am also developing myself. The first job tomorrow is to finish the race, we’ll have to wait and see what position it is.
EFREN VAZQUEZ – Sixth place, 151.952
I’m very happy and a little bit surprised: my collar-bone is still in eight parts. I have a little pain … but I am from Bilbao! I’ve been training at home, and I feel good that I can fight tomorrow. The team is improving all the time. At each race the bike and the performance get better. Having both on the front two rows is important to the team, and for our race results.
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Mahindra Racing’s hard work pays off
Mugello, 2 June 2013: Mahindra rider Miguel Oliveira claimed the only Indian motorcycle grand prix team’s best yet finish at Mugello on Sunday with a hard-fought fourth place, and added a new lap record to the books.
But the Portuguese star was “a little disappointed”: after leading at the mid-point of the race he missed the top-three podium by less than half a second, a Mahindra Racing press release said.
The podium is the next target, but the team had more than enough to celebrate in Italy. The exclusive and all-new Mahindra MGP3O is in only its fifth race after being designed and built in just six months. Already the aim to join the front runners has been achieved.
The race was a thriller from the start, with the Moto3™ pack jostling for position on the fast and sweeping 5.245-km Mugello circuit. Oliveira started from the second row and was ninth into the first corner, but 7th and climbing by the end of the lap.
He set a new lap record on the fourth lap, and next time round was third. From then on played a major role in a six-strong group that broke away for an enthralling battle to the end. They swapped positions constantly, with Miguel taking his turn up front on lap 15.
The final shoot-out had the crowd holding its breath. Victory went to Luis Salom (KTM) by just 0.099 of a second, with the similarly mounted Alex Rins and Maverick Vinales in his wheeltracks, and Miguel inches behind. Alex Marquez and pole starter Jonas Folger (both KTM) were still close, the top five covered by eight tenths. Wild card and grand prix first-timer Andrea Locatelli was 22nd, in the thick of a tight pack chasing 15th position, with ten riders crossing the line in just over two seconds.
Team regular Efrén Vázquez, still recuperating from collarbone surgery less than two weeks ago, withdrew from the race, but expects to return in better condition at Catalunya in a fortnight. Mahindra Racing CEO Mufaddal Choonia explained: “The team decided Efrén needed a bit more time to recover, and it was prudent not to start, and risk further injury.”
Today’s result regained a clear third place in the Constructor’s Championship for the marque, while Oliveira gained significant ground, now lying seventh overall.
MIGUEL OLIVEIRA – Fourth Place
“It was a difficult race – on the limit every lap to stay with the front group. The slipstream is very important here, so I couldn’t risk losing contact. I’m a little bit upset not to reach the podium, but happy with the whole weekend: good qualifying and race. At the last race I fell while with the front group, and we were up front again here. It gives plenty of motivation to keep pushing for more.”Copyright © 2013 Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. All rights reserved.ANDREA LOCATELLI – 22nd Place
“My first grand prix was quite an experience, fighting with a big group of more experienced riders. The Mahindra was good all weekend, and helped me to keep my place. I am happy with this start.”MUFADDAL CHOONIA – CEO Mahindra Racing
“Delighted with the result. We were running a little thirsty this weekend because we had no points at the last race. For the moment, the thirst has been quenched. Hats off to Miguel with a fantastic ride, and hats off to the technical team who put together a bike that could help him stay with the leading group throughout the race, and fight for the podium. We know where we have to work to improve, and we will be back to the drawing board to find what’s missing. The bike is strong already, and it is always harder to find improvements when you are already at a high level. We look forward to Catalunya, and hope Efrén will be back to full fitness and racing at this next round.”ends
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Mahindra Racing announces riders for 2013 Moto3
Valencia – Friday, 9 November, 2012: Mahindra Racing has confirmed its riders for the 2013 Moto3™ World Championship. An all-new line up will see experienced Spaniard Efrén Vázquez (26, from Bilbao) joined by exciting Portuguese teenager Miguel Oliveira (17, from Pragal near Lisbon).
The signing of two highly-regarded Moto3 riders is a statement of intent by the only Indian team in Grand Prix racing. Earlier this year, Mahindra announced a new technical partnership with established Swiss firm Suter Racing Technology AG for the development of a new Moto3 challenger for 2013.
The team will also move from its current Italian base to Switzerland for 2013 and introduce a number of new and experienced personnel. Having chosen the challenging route of developing its own technology to take the fight to the established racing factories in the World Championship, Mahindra Racing is confident that the restructuring will pay dividends.
“We are in the process of implementing strategic changes we had planned for next year and so far the outcome has been excellent” emphasized Mr S.P. Shukla, President, Group Strategy and Member of the Group Executive Board, Mahindra Group. “MotoGP plays an important part in our wider business strategy as a leading player in the field of mobility from 2Wheelers to Cars to Sports Vehicles. It is also a vital test bed for future technological development. We are committed to success in the series and the announcement that these two talented young riders will join Mahindra Racing underlines this.”“This is an exciting opportunity,” explained Efrén Vázquez. “Mahindra has shown some real commitment to the sport and I was impressed by their plans. I am looking forward to working with the team and we are aiming to make the new bike into one of the top machines in Moto3.”
“Having an Indian company involved in MotoGP is great and so I am very pleased to join this project,” added Miguel Oliveira. “Mahindra Racing has enormous support in India and I want to help them achieve their goals. I know there will be challenges ahead, but I am confident and very excited about 2013.”
CEO of Mahindra Racing Mufaddal Choonia concluded: “Signing these two riders was very important to us, and I think it is testament to the efforts that we are putting in to our 2013 programme that they wanted to join Mahindra Racing. Our plans are coming together well, but we are under no illusion that 2013 will be easy. We have learned some hard lessons this year, and we have a much stronger all-round package in place for the future.”
Brief profile of EFRÉN VÁZQUEZ
Efrén Vázquez Rodríguez, born 02 September 1986 in Bilbao, Spain, was educated in the MotoGP Academy and is one of the older heads in the Moto3 category, having arrived relatively late to the World Championship in 2007.After a season in 250s Vázquez opted to move to the 125cc class for 2008. His progress in the category was rapid, performing well in the World Championship and winning the Spanish series. In 2010 he took his first podium finish and placed fifth in the world standings, and in 2011 he was seventh overall. In 2012 he has ridden in the new Moto3 class and has been a regular top 10 finisher finishing fifth on four occasions and starting from the front row on three.
SummarySeason
Category
Starts
Points
Position
2012
Moto3
15
93
10
2011
125cc
17
160
7
2010
125cc
17
152
5
2009
125cc
16
54
14
2008
125cc
15
31
20
2007
250cc
10
1
29
Brief profile of MIGUEL OLIVEIRAMiguel Oliveira has shown in the inaugural year of Moto3™ that he has a bright future. Born on 4 January 1995, the 17-year-old from Pragal near Lisbon in Portugal has recorded some excellent qualifying results and strong race finishes including a third in Barcelona and second in Australia.Aged just nine, Miguel Oliveira finished fourth in his domestic MiniGP championship, receiving an award from the Portuguese Sporting Confederation in recognition of his talent. His first successes came in 2005 when he won the Portuguese MiniGP championship and Metrakit World Festival in Spain. In 2006 he repeated his Portuguese success and in 2007 won the Mediterranean PreGP 125 Trophy.
In 2009, he was third in the Spanish championship, and in 2010 battled Maverick Viñales to the final race of the season for the title, eventually finishing runner-up by just two points prior to switching to the World Championship in 2011. After a turbulent first season, the final year of the 125cc class, Oliveira adapted well to the new four-stroke Moto3 class and has finished the season strongly.
SummarySeason
Category
Starts
Points
Position
2012
Moto3
16
114
7
2011
125cc
11
44
14
About Mahindra RacingMahindra Racing is the first Indian team to participate in the FIM MotoGP™ World Motorcycle Racing Championship (in 2011) and the Italian National Motorcycle Racing Championship (CIV, in 2012).On the world stage, the Indian factory team signed off its 2011 debut season on a high note with action packed performances by both its riders. Marcel Schrötter finished 15th overall in the 125cc Rider’s Championship and the team finished a strong third overall in the Constructor’s Championship. Danny Webb made history when he secured pole position in Valencia in the last race of the 125cc era. The team has taken this learning into its participation in the all new Moto3™ class which replaced the 125cc class from the 2012 season onwards.
In the CIV, 2012 Season, the team competed in the 125 GP Class. The team became the first from India to win an international motorsport event when Riccardo took the chequered flag at the season-opening race of the CIV in Mugello, Italy on 25 March, 2012. Since then, the team recorded six victories from eight races and secured the Constructors’ Championship. Moretti secured second place in the Riders’ Championship, before joining Webb on the MGP-30 for the second half of the Moto3 season.
For further information please visit: www.mahindraracing.com
About The Mahindra Group
The Mahindra Group focuses on enabling people to rise. Mahindra operates in the key industries that drive economic growth, enjoying a leadership position in tractors, utility vehicles, information technology and vacation ownership. Mahindra has a presence in the automotive industry, agribusiness, aerospace, components, consulting services, defence, energy, financial services, industrial equipment, logistics, real estate, retail, steel and two wheelers.
A USD 15.9 billion multinational group based in Mumbai, India, Mahindra employs more than 144,000 people in over 100 countries. In 2011, Mahindra featured on the Forbes Global 2000 list, a listing of the biggest and most powerful listed companies in the world. Dun & Bradstreet also ranked Mahindra at No. 1 in the automobile sector in its list of India’s Top 500 Companies. In 2010, Mahindra featured in the Credit Suisse Great Brands of Tomorrow. In 2011, Mahindra acquired a majority stake in Korea’s SsangYong Motor Company.
Mahindra Racing – from left – Miguel Oliveira (Portugal), Mufaddal Choonia (CEO, Mahindra Racing) and Efrén Vázquez (Spain) ends
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Double podium brings constructors title for Mahindra Racing in Italy
Rome, 14 October 2012: Mahindra Racing – the first and still the only Indian company to enter the world of motorcycle grand prix racing – created history by winning the prestigious ‘Constructors Title’ in the 125GP class at the Italian National Motorcycle Racing Championship (CIV) in Italy. The exciting final race of the 2012 season concluded at the Vallelunga Circuit on Sunday, 40 kms from here.
The team won the premier title armed with two young but very promising and talented riders – 17 year old Miroslav Popov and the Austrian teenager Lukas Trautmann. Bringing to the fore a phenomenal performance, Miroslav Popov ended the season in style and brought about a stunning finish for 1st place. Displaying great skill on the track, the team’s second rider Lukas Trautmann, put in yet another impressive performance to finish 2nd in the 16 lap race, says a Press Release.
Popov started the race from pole position after the outstanding performance displayed in qualifying. His team mate Lukas Trautmann, at his very first weekend on the bike, moved off from the third row of the grid after finishing the two qualifying sessions as the fourth 125GP rider in the classification.
After the lights went out Popov got immediately in the lead, while Trautmann was third at Turn 1. Both riders displayed a very good race pace that allowed them to put some gap between themselves and the other
Finishing 1-2, Mahindra riders clinched the Constructors' title in the Italian Racing Championship, received by Mafaddal Choonia (centre). Mahindra Racing photo 125 GP riders.
As the race progressed Popov and Trautmann rode carefully and made no mistakes, crossing the line in first and second position. Miroslav Popov also set the fastest lap of the race with a 1’47’’041 lap-time.
Though he did not compete in the last race of the season, 27-year-old Riccardo Moretti claimed an impressive second place in the overall all Riders Rankings thanks to his phenomenal performances during the season behind leader Lorenzo Dalla Porta in the Riders Classification of the championship. He has already secured five podiums so far in the seven rounds of the season.
“This historic win by Mahindra Racing at the CIV demonstrates the superb performance our bikes, the skills and commitment of our riders and outstanding team work – all hallmarks of Mahindra Rise philosophy. Our continued success in international motor sports events such as the Italian National Motorcycle Racing Championship is strengthening the Mahindra brand globally.” said S. P. Shukla, Member of Group Executive Board and President of Group Strategy, Mahindra Group.
Mr. Mufaddal Choonia, CEO of Mahindra Racing said, “Winning a highly competitive event like the Italian National Motorcycle Racing Championship is a historic achievement for Mahindra Racing and Indian motorsport. We competed against the best in the world with a pair of young and energetic riders and our victory marks a big step forward for the team. The year wasn’t all easy but we remained determined and committed and are thrilled with the results.”
Commenting on his performance in the race, Popov said, “I feel very content to have finished the season on a winning note. There were moments that were challenging but we worked hard, beat the odds and have come out victorious. We are working together very well as a team and I couldn’t have hoped for a better result than this. The credit for our victory goes to the team.”
Lukas Trautmann said, “I am happy with the results of the race and am gaining more and more confidence after each outing. I thank the team and Mahindra. The future looks promising and I am glad to be racing for Mahindra Racing.”
After making its CIV debut in 2012, Mahindra Racing became the first from India to win an international motorsport event when Moretti took the chequered flag at the season-opening race in Mugello, Italy on 25th March this year. The team won 6 out of the 8 races in the championship with 3 spectacular double podiums. The Indian manufacturer is one among a handful of entrants using its own chassis and engine, developing new technology at the same time challenging the might of established racing factories that fill the rest of the grid.
CIV Manufacturers Title – 1) Mahindra 176 – 2) Aprilia 162 – 3) Honda 50 – 4) KTM 34
Vallelunga Circuit Results – 125 GP CIV Italian Championship Round 8 : 1) Popov (Mahindra) – 2) Trautmann (Mahindra) – 3) Carpi (Aprilia).
About Mahindra Racing
Mahindra Racing is the first Indian team to participate in the FIM MotoGP™ World Motorcycle Racing Championship (in 2011) and the Italian National Motorcycle Racing Championship (CIV, in 2012).
On the world stage, the Indian factory team signed off its 2011 debut season on a high note with action packed performances by both its riders. Marcel Schrötter finished 15th overall in the 125cc Rider’s Championship and the team finished a strong third overall in the Constructor’s Championship. Danny Webb made history when he secured pole position in Valencia in the last race of the 125cc era. The team has taken this learning into its participation in the all new Moto3™ class which replaced the 125cc class from the 2012 season onwards.
In the CIV in Italy, the team competes in the 125 GP Class with ex-Italian Champion Riccardo Moretti. The team became the first from India to win an international motorsport event when Riccardo took the chequered flag at the season-opening race of the CIV in Mugello, Italy on 25 March, 2012. Since then, the team has recorded five victories from seven races with only one round remaining. Having secured second place in the Championship, Moretti has now joined Webb on the MGP-30 for the remainder of the Moto3 season.
For further information please visit: www.mahindraracing.com
About The Mahindra Group
The Mahindra Group focuses on enabling people to rise. Mahindra operates in the key industries that drive economic growth, enjoying a leadership position in tractors, utility vehicles, information technology and vacation ownership. Mahindra has a presence in the automotive industry, agribusiness, aerospace, components, consulting services, defence, energy, financial services, industrial equipment, logistics, real estate, retail, steel and two wheelers.
A USD 15.4 billion multinational group based in Mumbai, India and is the only global group that is present in the complete transportation chain from two wheelers, passenger vehicles and trucks to boats and aeroplanes.
Mahindra employs more than 144,000 people in over 100 countries.
In 2011, Mahindra featured on the Forbes Global 2000 list, a listing of the biggest and most powerful listed companies in the world. Dun & Bradstreet also ranked Mahindra at No. 1 in the automobile sector in its list of India’s Top 500 Companies. In 2010, Mahindra featured in the Credit Suisse Great Brands of Tomorrow.
In 2011, Mahindra acquired a majority stake in Korea’s SsangYong Motor Company.
For further information, please visit www.mahindra.com, www.mahindra2wheelers.com
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