karun Chandhok and Bruno Senna Mahindra Formula E

Mahindra Racing Appoints Karun Chandhok and Bruno Senna as its Formula E Drivers

 karun Chandhok and Bruno Senna Mahindra Formula E (2)

Mahindra Racing have announced that Karun Chandhok and Bruno Senna will be the racing team’s drivers for the first FIA Formula E Championship. Both Chandhok and Senna have competed at the top level of the sport in Formula 1. The signing of two high profile drivers shows Mahindra’s determination to succeed in the first season of Formula E. Its notable that Chandhok and Senna have already raced as team mates previously in their careers.

Click here to read more about the Formula E Zero Emission championship

Preparation for the season is already underway, with the team’s first car having been delivered to Mahindra Racing recently. This brand new Formula E car has already been painted with the team’s new livery – a combination of Mahindra red and the colours of the Indian flag.

karun Chandhok and Bruno Senna Mahindra Formula E (1)

Mahindra Racing is one of only ten teams – and the only Indian team – to compete in the inaugural FIA Formula E Championship. 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.

Mahindra FIA Formula E Car official Image (2)

Here we have the quotes from the two drivers about their participation in the first of its kind racing championship

Karun Chandhok

 Karun Chandhok

“I’m very excited to be a part of the Mahindra Racing line up. Mahindra are showing a lot of commitment to Formula E and it’s very encouraging to see the support of senior members of the group to this programme. To be a part of the only Indian team in this series is a real honour for me. It’s also going to be a nice reunion for me with Bruno again. He’s one of my closest friends from the racing world, we respect each other and work well together which will be good for the development of the team. The in-city races are going to be a great spectacle and the quality of teams and drivers should ensure some fantastic racing.”

Bruno Senna

Bruno senna

“I’m very proud to be joining Mahindra Racing. There is a real ambition within the team to be leaders in Formula E from the start. It’s also an exciting prospect to be part of such a revolutionary championship from the beginning. There will be a lot to learn very quickly, both for the teams and drivers, in terms of technology and driving styles and for race fans as Formula E will popularise a new type of motorsport across the world. Of course, I already have a great relationship with Karun which will help us work together and move the team forward very quickly.”

The profiles for the two Mahindra Racing drivers are provided below

Karun Chandhok

Born: Chennai, India, January 19, 1984

Chandhok has been a leading force in Indian motorsport from the earliest moments of his career. The Chennai born racer was the winner of the first ever Formula Asia V6 Champion, and also the first driver for A1 Team India in the former A1GP Series. Chandhok went on to race in Formula One’s strongest feeder series, GP2 in 2008, the year he was first partnered with Senna. The duo would meet again in 2010 when both made their F1 debut with the HRT team.

Chandhok made a one off appearance in Formula 1 in 2011, at the German Grand Prix for Team Lotus F1 team. In 2012, Chandhok won the inaugural Race of Champions Asia event as part of Team India with Narain Karthikeyan. In 2013, Chandhok competed in the FIA World Endurance Championship, incorporating the prestigious Le Mans 24 hours, becoming the first Indian ever to start the infamous endurance event.

Bruno Senna

Born: Sao Paolo, Brazil, October 15, 1983

The Senna name is synonymous with international motorsport but Bruno has carved a career in his own right. The Sao Paulo native forged out a strong career in the junior categories culminating in finishing the 2008 GP2 Series as vice champion. Senna began his Formula 1 career in 2010 with the HRT team, in which he was partnered with Chandok. Having gained valuable experience, Senna moved to the Lotus Renault GP team in 2011 as Reserve Driver, being promoted to race driver half way through the season. Senna’s F1 career continued in 2012 when he raced for the Williams F1 team, scoring valuable championship points for the team during the course of the season.

Senna competed in the prestigious Le Mans 24 hours for the second time in 2013, having raced in the event in 2010 and in an action packed season, also raced in the FIA World Endurance Championship, Blancpain Endurance Series, American Le Mans Series and Brazilian Stock Car V8s in 2013. Senna continues to race in the FIA WEC in 2014, which will dovetail around his Formula E commitments.

Dr Pawan Goenka

Commenting on this development, Dr. Pawan Goenka, Executive Director and President (Automotive & Farm Equipment Sectors), said, “Mahindra Racing takes an important step forward on its pioneering journey into electric car racing with the announcement of our driver line-up. We are confident that our participation in Formula E racing would allow Mahindra to remain at the cutting edge of EV technology and help us develop the next generation of electric road cars.”

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Scroll to Top