Karun Chandhok and Bruno Senna to drive Formula E

Senna and Chandhok

Mahindra Racing has today announced that Karun Chandhok and Bruno Senna will join the team for the inaugural season of the FIA Formula E Championship.

The duo will represent Mahindra when they line-up on the grid at the start of the world’s first fully-electric racing series in Beijing on September 13 2014. Neither Chandhok nor Senna are strangers to the international racing scene, having both competed in Formula One. Representing the only Indian team in Formula E, Chennai-born Chandhok and Brazilian Senna bring with them a strong working relationship, having already raced as team-mates previously in their careers.

S P Shukla, Chairman of Mahindra Racing, said: “Both Karun and Bruno come with very strong racing pedigrees and have successfully competed in a variety of racing series over the past few years. The entire team looks forward to working with both of them to optimize the performance of our racing car over the next few months of testing before the start of racing in September this year."

Mahindra Racing Team Principal Dilbagh Gill said: “Karun and Bruno both represent the perfect balance between experience and youthful enthusiasm for this truly ground breaking championship. I am confident they will do their best to represent Mahindra on the world stage and the entire team is aiming for top results from the start of the championship."

Karun Chandhok, 30, said: “I’m very excited to be a part of the Mahindra Racing line-up. The team 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 program. To be a part of the only Indian team in this series is a real honor 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 city races are going to be a great spectacle and the quality of teams and drivers should ensure some fantastic racing."

Bruno Senna, also 30, added: “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 popularize 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."

Alejandro Agag, CEO of Formula E, added: “I’m delighted to welcome Karun and Bruno to the FIA Formula E Championship, both of whom I’ve known for some time. They are very talented drivers who will be great assets to Mahindra Racing and add to our growing line-up of top drivers."

To date, six of the 20 Formula E drivers (two per team) have been confirmed with Lucas di Grassi and Daniel Abt signing for Audi Sport ABT, in addition to Jaime Alguersuari and Sam Bird, who join Virgin Racing.

Formula E is the FIA’s new fully-electric single-seater championship designed to appeal to a new generation of motorsport fans, whilst accelerating the interest in electric vehicles and promoting sustainability. Racing entirely on temporary city-centre race tracks, it uses cars capable of speeds in excess of 150mph (225kph). The first of 10 races takes place in Beijing around the iconic Olympic ‘Bird’s Nest’ Stadium with the season finale taking place in London on June 27 2015.