EVs have been the talk of the season in India with 4 EVs launched over the last 4 months and at least 4 more in the pipeline. Amidst all this, there is constant speculation over the launch of Tesla as well. Globally too, electric vehicles have been making their presence felt for some years now. With all this buzz over EVs building up, it´s time to talk about the presence of EVs in sporting events too. We are, of course, talking about Formula E, the all-electric version of an international auto race. India´s own Mahindra too entered the fray as a founding member in 2014.
Mahindra Racing was, in fact, founded in 2011 itself and is based in Banbury, United Kingdom. As a founding member of Formula E, Mahindra has competed in every season since its start. With five race victories, 22 podium finishes, and a third-place finish in 2021 Formula E, Mahindra Racing is one of the most formidable forces on the grid. As the future of automobiles shifts toward electric vehicles, Mahindra Racing has stepped up its efforts in Formula E, breaking new territory as an Indian manufacturer in the international motorsport scene. Their 'Race to Road' project allows them to use Formula E technology for their road cars in addition to racing.
Mahindra Racing has made Formula E history by finishing in the top ten in every season, whereas Mercedes has been in the top ten twice. Formula E was Mahindra's first foray into international single-seater racing. The company makes electric cars, and its 'Race to Road' programme uses the championship as a fast-paced testbed for researching and refining its cutting-edge electric vehicle technology.
Formula E Season 1
The first season of Formula E took place in 2014 and Mahindra Racing was one of the original ten teams to compete in the all-electric racing series. The squad competed on a Spark-Renault SRT 01E chassis that was allocated to all of the circuit's groups. Karun Chandhok and Bruno Senna were the first Mahindra Racing drivers to compete, and despite an inconsistent season, they demonstrated brilliance and improvement during the races.
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Formula E Season 2
The team finished seventh in the championship after garnering 58 points and facing four DNFs. After creating its powertrain the next season, Mahindra Racing was designated as a manufacturer. The chassis M2Electro looked excellent right out of the box. After Chandhok was dropped for the season, Nick Heidfeld and Bruno Senna drove a consistent mid-field vehicle. By the end of the season, the team had risen to fifth place in the championship, thanks to two podium finishes.
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Formula E Season 3
According to the results, Mahindra Racing's third season in Formula E (2016-17) was their most refined yet. The Indian team finished third in the constructor's championship this season, with 215 points, 110 more than the previous season. This year marked outstanding achievements under their belt with nine podium finishes, one victory, three pole positions, and two fastest laps. The M3Electro was quite competitive, and it was also in a close race for the championship. Heidfeld was consistent throughout the season, finishing on the podium five times.
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Formula E Season 4
The squad didn't have the same competitive advantage in the following three years as they did in the season of 2016-17 (S3), but they were still a persistent threat in the middle. Rosenqvist was vying for the driver's championship title in the early stages of the 2017-18 (S4) season, with two victories under his belt. However, as the season proceeded, he slipped out of contention.
Formula E Season 5 and 6
Jérôme d'Ambrosio and Pascal Wehrlein, DTM's youngest champion at the time, were added to the driver lineup for the 2018-19 (S5) season. The squad finished sixth in the championship at the wheel of the Mahindra M5Electro vehicle. They also won the Marrakesh E-Prix and finished second at the Santiago E-Prix throughout the season. Amidst season six (2019/20), Pascal Wehrlein left the squad and was replaced by Alex Lynn.
Formula E Season 7
Mahindra Racing has been consistent over the years, and despite a few setbacks on the way to the Formula E world championship, the Indian team does not appear to be giving up the battle. Season 7 has closed in Berlin, and the struggle for the title in the midfield was razor-thin. Mahindra Racing is now ninth in the standings with 132 points, and Berlin has historically been a robust circuit for the Indian team.
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Mahindra Racing acquired a Two-Star Accreditation in November 2016. By 2018, the team earned the Three-Star Sustainability Accreditation, making them the world's second motorsport team and the first in Formula E. The year-on-year progress of Mahindra Racing is remarkable, and even Mercedes doesn't come close to its achievements in Formula E Championships.
