2 weeks ago
Mahindra's Formula E rise no fluke; best still to come
A racing team called Mahindra has been getting better and better at Formula E, a championship where cars race using electric power.
The driver Edoardo Mortara says this didn't happen by luck.
The team worked hard and improved a little more every year for three years.
Now Mahindra wins races and often starts near the front.
Before the final race of the season in London, Mahindra has a real chance to finish high in the teams' championship for the first time.
Some bad luck this year, like rain and a fire extinguisher problem, cost the team some points.
After this season, Formula E will bring in new cars called Gen4.
Mortara says they will be faster, more powerful and more exciting.
He believes Mahindra's best days are still ahead.
Mahindra Racing enters the London season finale with two wins and four pole positions, one point adrift of third place in the Teams' Championship.
Edoardo Mortara says Mahindra's transformation from Formula E midfielders to front-runners was a three-year journey of sustained development, not a sudden breakthrough.
According to Mortara, Mahindra has for the first time arrived at a final race weekend mathematically able to fight for the Teams' title.
Missed opportunities this season included a fire extinguisher issue in Sanya and conservative tyre-pressure decisions forced by rain in Shanghai and Tokyo.
Formula E moves into the Gen4 era after London, with faster, more powerful cars featuring more aero downforce and new technical challenges.
- Who
- Edoardo Mortara, Mahindra Racing's Swiss-Italian driver who joined the team three years ago alongside Nick de Vries; also Kush Maini, Mahindra's Indian reserve and development driver.
- What
- Mahindra Racing's rise to Formula E front-runners in the Gen3 era, with two wins and four pole positions, plus the upcoming transition to the Gen4 era.
- Where
- London hosts the season finale; earlier races mentioned include Sanya, Shanghai and Tokyo.
- When
- The current season, ahead of the London season finale; report dated August 15.
- Why
- Three years of sustained development across efficiency, powertrain, software, race strategy and team operations, according to Mortara.
Key facts
- Team
- Mahindra Racing
- Driver quoted
- Edoardo Mortara, 38-year-old Swiss-Italian
- Wins this season
- 2
- Pole positions
- 4
- Teams' Championship standing
- One point adrift of third place
- Season finale
- London
- Next car era
- Gen4, with more power and aero downforce
- Reserve and development driver
- Kush Maini (India)
Quotes
Edoardo Mortara
Mahindra Racing driver and team co‑founder
“"The good part is that most of the work that has been done in terms of software development, where the difference is being made in Formula E, will be taken back for the generation."”
theprint.in
“"We are seeing contention actually for the team’s championship. Mathematically, yes, but realistically maybe third or fourth. But that means that we are still in the fight."”
theprint.in
Sources
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