Mahindra Racing demonstrated
the incredible power and performance of its new M2Electro Formula E electric
racing car, and new MGP30 racing motorcycle at the Buddh International Circuit on
February 12, 2016.
Youtube video courtesy FIA Formula E
The high-profile event
featured its fully-electric M2Electro hitting the track in a drag race with one
of its Moto3 racing bikes, while star drivers Bruno Senna and Nick Heidfeld
also performed some crowd-pleasing donuts.
These racing machines embody
Mahindra’s growing technical expertise and increased commitment to racing which
is helping to build recognition and admiration for the Mahindra brand globally.
Both the M2Electro and MGP30 compete at the very highest level of international
motorsport in the Formula E electric racing car championship, and MotoGP world
motorcycle racing championship respectively.
Present at the BIC in Greater
Noida were Anand Mahindra, Chairman Mahindra Group, Ali Russel, Director of
Media & Strategic Partnerships at Formula-E, Dr Pawan Goenka, Executive
Director, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd and Ruzbeh Irani, President (Group
Communications & Ethics), Chief Brand Officer and Member of Group Executive
Board, Mahindra & Mahindra along with the team drivers.
Mahindra Racing M2Electro Electric Racing Car
The M2Electro was developed by
Mahindra Racing to compete in the second season of the Formula E championship.
This made Mahindra one of a select few manufacturers that developed an all new
electric powertrain for the racing series. The second generation Mahindra
Racing car, the M2Electro is blisteringly fast with a 0-100kms time of under 3
seconds. It has been designed with a priority on increased performance, energy
efficiency and weight saving. Developed to Mahindra specification with world
leading manufacturers including McLaren and Hewland, the M2Electro showcases
the technology that you will soon find in your next electric road car.
Mahindra’s is taking these
learnings and technical progress made on the race-track are transferred into
the development of a new generation of electric road cars. These road also
demonstrate Mahindra’s vision of the ‘Future of Mobility’ with vehicles that
are Clean, Clever, Convenient, Cost Effective and Connected.
Formula E cars represent the
future of electric car technology with racing taking place on city streets on
all-weather treaded tyres similar to the tyres on your road car. The narrow,
bumpy street tracks are a demanding test ground for any racing car and the
M2Electro has excelled with no mechanical failures in its first few races in
season two of Formula E. Early tests reveal that the M2Electro has proven a
fast and reliable racing car, completing all allocated pre-season test days,
successfully covering over 2,000km on track before official pre-season testing
even began.
Piloted by former Formula 1
stars Bruno Senna and Nick Heidfeld, the M2Electro has impressed in its first
races by scoring the team’s maiden podium on its first outing in Beijing in a
highly competitive field. Each driver races two Formula E cars during a race.
During a mandatory pit stop about half way through the race, the driver pulls
into the garage and swaps to a second car within a specified time. This in itself
is a precise exercise and can be the difference between failure and glory.
Mahindra Racing MGP30 Racing Motorcycle
New engine, gearbox and
aerodynamic packages are matched by several refinements to the chassis and
electrical components. All these changes combine to offer greater performance
in tune with a new double exhaust system developed by Arrow.
The new Mahindra MGP3O will be campaigned by
factory entry Team Aspar with retained talented young riders Pecco Bagnaia (19,
ITA) and Jorge Martin (18, SPA). Three Mahindra customer teams will see six
further MGP3O machines on the grid run by Team CIP, the Outox Reset Drink Team,
and MTA Team Italia, all running two-rider outfits.
New to the Mahindra family in
MotoGP is Peugeot Motocycles factory team, SP Racing. An impressive line-up of
Frenchman Alexis Masbou (28) and Briton John McPhee (21) will contest the Moto3
World Championship on an MGP3O-derived Peugeot.
Dilbagh Gill, team principal
of Mahindra Racing, said: “What we are trying to do with the demo run, and what
Anand Mahindra and Pawan Goenka said, is that we intend to bring a race to
India. We want to bring it as quickly as we can. We are talking with the right
people. As long as we’ve got the minds behind it, the infrastructure shouldn’t
be a problem. The promoters know how to host a race, they know how to bring the
infrastructure whether in Delhi, Mumbai or Bangalore, we won’t have a problem
in hosting a race.”
Ali Russell, Director of Media
and Communications at Formula E, said: “Formula E is a truly global sport with
races spread across four continents. As a new racing series, Formula E acts as
a platform to promote sustainable mobility and alternative energy solutions,
and India is a perfect example of an important emerging market for the profile
and production of electric vehicles.”
Source: FIA FormualE / Mahindra Racing