Mahindra Racing, the Indian manufacturer competing in the all-electric Formula E championship, is looking to turn the tide in the upcoming 11th season. After a challenging few years, particularly since the introduction of the Gen3 car in 2022-23, Mahindra is determined to climb the grid and consistently challenge for midfield positions.
The team’s performance in the previous season, 2023-24, started off slow but showed signs of improvement towards the end, with several promising results. However, they still finished 10th out of 11 teams, marking their second consecutive year in that position.
Team Principal and CEO Frederic Bertrand is confident that the new season will be different. “We started to perform at the end of the season when we started to get the right momentum. We hope that we can start season 11 in the same manner and score points regularly,” he said ahead of the launch of the new car.
Bertrand further explained the key aspects of the new Gen3.5 powertrain, highlighting its improved efficiency: “One of the expectations is additional efficiency so that we can start the race with more ambition because we are not limited by the idea that we will be too short in energy. That was one of the things driving a lot of our strategy last season, knowing that we were a few per cent down compared to the others when we were starting the race.”
The new powertrain also boasts enhanced driving performance: “The second aspect is a little bit more, let’s say, good behaviour during certain driving phases so that the driver gets more confidence in how they can push the car’s limit,” added Bertrand.
Mahindra driver Nyck de Vries echoes the optimism, expressing confidence in the new technology’s ability to deliver gains for the upcoming season: “For this season, we are getting a new powertrain; it will be Gen 3.5. The hardware will be completely different, which has better potential with higher efficiency, better controls, and software. This gives us hope and confidence that we can make further progress for the coming season.”
With the new Gen3.5 powertrain and a renewed focus on performance, Mahindra Racing is poised to challenge for a stronger position in the upcoming Formula E season. The team’s determination, coupled with the driver’s confidence in the new technology, suggests that Mahindra is ready to make a significant impact on the electric racing landscape.