Mahindra Racing’s Karun Chandhok Nonminated Formula E Drivers’ Representative

Mahindra Racing’s Karun Chandhok has been elected as a drivers’ representative for the FIA Formula E Championship along with Dragon Racing’s Oriol Servia. The duo will represent all the Formula E drivers on matters such as driver safety and circuit layout, working closely with Formula E organisers and the FIA.

 

Chandhok, who took Mahindra Racing’s first points in the fully electric championship last month in Beijing has a wealth of knowledge and experience which would help him in his new role. The Indian racer has competed in numerous single seater categories including Formula One. 

 

Chandhok said: "Immediately after the Beijing ePrix, Alejandro Agag [Formula E CEO] started an email chain between all the drivers asking for feedback on the first event and ideas going forward. It's the first series I've been in where the drivers are really being consulted, which is fantastic. We realised that instead of having 20 emails bouncing around it makes sense to just elect two drivers who can represent our views to the FIA and Formula E organisers.”

 

“I look forward to working with Oriol as well as the FIA and the Formula E teams to find ways to make the tracks better for racing, safer and also explore ways to tweak the rules where needed, to improve the series."

 

Jean Todt, President, FIA, said: “It’s very important for the FIA to have the feedback of drivers, especially in a new and innovative championship like Formula E, which takes place on challenging city circuits. As the elected representatives of the Formula E drivers, Karun Chandhok and Oriol Servia will be involved in all questions related to driver safety and in particular the layout of each circuit in the championship. For that, they will do a track inspection with FIA officials at each round. We are happy to be able to count on them and on the valuable assistance they will bring to the FIA Formula E Championship, in collaboration with all the other drivers.”

 

Chandhok will be back on track for Mahindra Racing alongside his team mate Bruno Senna at the second round of the FIA Formula E Championship in Putrajaya, Malaysia on 22^nd November. 

 

About Mahindra Racing:

Mahindra Racing is one of only ten teams – and the only Indian team – to compete in the inaugural FIA Formula E Championship. It was also the first Indian team to participate in the FIM MotoGP™ World Motorcycle Racing Championship series in 2011 and the Italian National Motorcycle Racing Championship (CIV) in 2012.

 

The newly developed Formula E series is the world’s first fully electric racing championship. Commencing in September 2014 through to June 2015, it will be held in 10 of the world's leading cities, including London, Beijing and Los Angeles. In the inaugural season, 10 teams, consisting of two drivers each, will go head-to-head, creating a unique and exciting spectacle that is designed to appeal to a new generation of motorsport fans.

 

This revolutionary racing series will also serve as a framework for R&D around electric vehicles, accelerating general interest in these cars and promoting sustainability.

 

Mahindra Racing’s Formula E team which is based at Donington Park in the UK is currently preparing to compete in the series. All teams will run the zero emissions SRT-01E racing car, with its batteries producing 200kw, the equivalent of 270bhp.

 

Mahindra’s bold decision to take on the world’s best at the highest level of motorcycle racing has won the team a number of prestigious awards in India, including: the NDTV Car and Bike Awards - 'Mobil 1 Motorsport Award of the Year', 2012 and 2013; the Bike India Magazine - 'Motorsport Award', 2013; and 'ZigWheels Motorsport Award of the Year', 2012.

 

The team now hopes to build further on its success at the inaugural FIA Formula-E Racing World Championship in 2014.

 

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 16.5 billion multinational group based in Mumbai, India, Mahindra employs more than 180,000 people in over 100 countries. Mahindra operates in the key industries that drive economic growth, enjoying a leadership position in tractors, utility vehicles, 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

 

For further enquiries:

 

Mr. Ruzbeh Irani

Chief Group Comms & Ethics Officer & Member of the Group Executive Board

Mahindra Group

Phone: +91 22 2490 1441

group.communications@mahindra.com

 

Ms Stephanie Tindall

Mahindra Racing Formula E Press Officer

T: +44 1252 322 033

E: stephanie.tindall@carlin.co.uk