• 09 April 2019
  • News

MAHINDRA RACING READY FOR BATTLE IN ROME

9 APRIL 2019 – Mahindra Racing is heading into the second half of the 2018/19 ABB FIA Formula E Championship and is taking the fight to Italy for the seventh round of season five. The squad head to the Rome E-Prix as joint leaders in the team’s championship with Jerome D’Ambrosio, driving the #64, one point behind the lead in the driver’s battle. Formula E rookie and double Super Pole qualifier, Pascal Wehrlein, will race his #94 M5Electro for the sixth time.

For the second consecutive season, the drivers will race in Rome, Italy against the backdrop of the iconic Colosseo Quadratro. The 2.870km Circuito Cittadino dell’EUR has 21 turns and marks the first of five races for the season’s European leg.

The Rome E-Prix holds mixed memories for Mahindra Racing; last year the team secured Pole Position at the inaugural Rome E-Prix with Felix Rosenqvist and Nick Heidfeld qualified inside the top ten on the starting grid. When the lights went out Felix was forced to retire from the lead with damage to the rear left wheel and Nick was caught up in a four-car collision.

The 2019 Rome E-Prix marks exactly one year since Mahindra Racing’s Race-to-Road programme was announced and, to mark the occasion, the first public display of the Automobili Pininfarina Battista will be on display in the E-Village. The most powerful road-legal car ever designed at 1,900hp/2,300Nm torque is the zero-emission, electric hypercar Battista. The ‘Race-to-Road’ technology transfer, which sees the Battista reach 100km/h in less than two seconds yet is still capable of 450kms on one charge, has been secured through Automobili Pininfarina’s partnership with Mahindra Racing and expert advice from Nick Heidfeld.

“Firstly I’m very happy that Mahindra Racing has attained its FIA 2-Star accreditation going into Hong Kong; we’re still the only Formula E team to do so and I’m very proud of the team and the hard work that goes into maintaining this status on a day-to-day basis. We’ve had great success in Hong Kong in the past and, of course, I’d love to be on the podium listening to the Indian nat

“We’ve had a really strong start to the season so far, but we’ve seen the competition getting stronger at every race which means we need to make sure we’re getting the best out of every race weekend and minimise mistakes. We know our car is quick with the right set up and we know what our drivers can achieve. We’d like to hear the Indian National Anthem on the podium again and that’s what we’re aiming for at the Rome E-Prix.”

ional anthem again, but we will approach the race in the same way; to achieve the best possible result.”

Dilbagh Gill

“There is nothing to dislike about the Rome E-Prix; the track is amazing and it’s my favourite circuit on the race calendar. We have good momentum going into the second half of the season, even though the competition is getting tougher and stronger. We know it’s very tight up at the front, but it’s better to be fighting up there instead of being at the back; it’s one of the best years of my career so far. Both Pascal and I are quick and at ease with the car and the problematic parts of the track last year have already been improved. It’s one of the most beautiful cities in the world and being able to go and race there is amazing.”

Jérôme D'Ambrosio

“We’re looking good in the team’s championship and Jérôme is looking very strong in the driver’s battle. We have a great team spirit heading into Rome. There are more high-speed corners, so we’ll adjust the car to suit the demands of the track, but we’re pushing really hard to fight at the front and are aiming for a podium. The competition is huge in Formula E, but let’s see if I can be the seventh winner this season!”

Pascal Wehrlein

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