Mahindra Racing is a motor racing team based in Banbury, United Kingdom, competing with an Indian racing licence. The team is currently competing in the electric FIA Formula E Championship since the inaugural season in 2014. The team formerly competed in Grand Prix motorcycle racing, fielding a team in the junior 125cc category (later renamed Moto3) between 2011 and 2015. Mahindra later refocused on being a bike and engine supplier, until ultimately pulling out of the sport in 2017.
FIA Formula E World Championship (2014–present)
Overview
Mahindra Racing competes in the FIA Formula E World Championship. They entered the Championship in the inaugural 2014-2015 season as one of the ten founding teams.
From the second season of Formula E (2015-2016), the team developed its own electric powertrain, the M2Electro, to power their quartet of electric racing cars. The M2Electro impressed out of the box, with Nick Heidfeld scoring the team's first podium in the opening round in Beijing. Bruno Senna had a second place podium finish in the first of the two season finale races in London. The M2Electro also impressed with its efficiency and reliability, contributing to seven double points finishes throughout the season.
For Season Three of Formula E (2016-2017), rookie Felix Rosenqvist joined as teammate to Nick Heidfeld. Mahindra Racing developed the new M3Electro car, which proved to be a competitive package, powering the team to its maiden win at the hands of Rosenqvist at the 2017 Berlin ePrix. The team also scored nine further podiums, three pole positions and two fastest lap awards. These results were underscored by Mahindra Racing's third place in the Teams’ Championship standings.
Drivers Felix Rosenqvist and Nick Heidfeld remained with Mahindra for fourth season of Formula E (2017-2018), piloting the M4Electro to two further victories, in Hong Kong and Marrakesh, and three pole positions. After a strong and encouraging start to the season, the team finished fourth overall in the team's championship, with Rosenqvist in the driver's title hunt for much of the season.
For Season Five of Formula E (2018–19), Felix Rosenqvist left the team to join the Chip Ganassi Racing team in IndyCar series and was replaced by former Dragon Racing driver Jérôme d'Ambrosio. Nick Heidfeld stepped down from his race seat to become a special advisor and official reserve driver for the squad and was replaced by former Manor and Sauber Formula 1 driver and DTM champion Pascal Wehrlein. Racing the M5Electro, the Mahindra drivers secured one win, two podiums, two fastest laps, a pole position and seven Super Pole appearances between them, finishing the Championship in sixth place.
Wehrlein and D'Ambrosio were announced as continuing with the team for Season 6 (2019/20) at a launch event in Germany in October 2019. On 24 June 2020 the team announced that Alex Lynn would replace Wehrlein for the remainder of the 2019/20 Season. The team finished the 2019–20 season ranking ninth on the constructors standings. D'Ambrosio would later announce his retirement from professional racing after the season to take on a team principal role at Venturi Racing.
2020–21 season
On 29 October 2020, Mahindra revealed the new M7Electro car, Alexander Sims and Alex Lynn were confirmed as the driver lineup for the 2020–21 Formula E season.
2021–22 season
Lynn was replaced by Oliver Rowland for the 2021–22 Formula E season.
2022–23 season
Sims was announced to not return to the team for the 2022–23 season; he was replaced by Lucas di Grassi. Team principal Dilbagh Gill left the team in September 2022, entering a period of gardening leave; he was replaced by Frédéric Bertrand. In May, it was announced that Oliver Rowland would leave the team, and be replaced by Roberto Merhi for the 2023 Jakarta ePrix.
2023–24 season
Despite being contracted for 2024, Mahindra announced that di Grassi have left the team on 26 September 2023. On the following day, Mahindra announced the signing of 2020–21 series champion Nyck De Vries and Edoardo Mortara for the 2023–24 season.
Mahindra Racing Team and Drivers
FIM MotoGP Series
As a team
In 2011, Mahindra Racing made its motor racing debut in the 125cc class of the MotoGP championship, which was then in its last year. The team performed well in their inaugural season, capped off by Danny Webb securing Team Mahindra's first-ever pole position in the last race, at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Valencia, Spain.