Nick Heidfeld scores Mahindra Racing’s first Formula E podium in Beijing ePrix.

Nick Heidfeld scored Mahindra Racing’s first ever Formula E podium, finishing third in a tight battle on the streets of Beijing.

Mahindra’s new M2Electro Formula E car made a strong start to the 2015/16 season with Nick Heidfeld and Bruno Senna qualifying P3 and P7 respectively and finishing P3 & P13. Both drivers gained a position before the first corner with Nick challenging for the lead on many occasions. Due to complications during their car swaps, both drivers lost places in the pit stops. Nick rejoined the track in P4. Suffering from a broken rear wing, Nico Prost was forced to retire promoting Heidfeld to P3 and the team’s best result to date. Senna struggled to recover from a poor pit stop and finished in P13.

“Dilbagh Gill, Team Principal of Mahindra Racing Formula E Team: “I don’t quite have the words to describe what the first podium means to the team and to Mahindra. The performance of both cars in qualifying and Nick’s final result (the fastest team behind Renault) shows that the approach we took to developing the M2Electro powertrain was the right one. The car has been reliable and consistent since testing and we now know we also have a package that can compete in both qualifying and race trim. We must congratulate ourselves but we must build on this success in the next race. We could potentially have finished even higher. We have a great car and now we need to aim for consistent race performance.”

Nick Heidfeld: “I want to thank the team for providing me with a car that can achieve a result like this. I can be a demanding driver and as a team we pushed hard to get this result. We will build on this achievement, refine the car and I believe the M2Electro can continue to race at the front of the grid. I had to work hard to defend on the final laps as other cars were putting pressure on me from behind but I’m glad that our race strategy left me with enough energy to keep them behind me right to

Bruno Senna: “It was a mixed day for me. In practice and qualifying, the car felt good and I felt I could have pushed further and further forward in the race. Ultimately it was the pit stop that put me outside the I am so happy that Mahindra Racing has its first Formula E podium. As part of the team since the beginning, I know exactly what it means to everyone. We will go to Malaysia knowing we have a fast and reliable car and with a cleaner race, the results will continue to come.”

About Mahindra Racing

Mahindra Racing is one of only ten teams – and the only Indian team – to compete in the FIA Formula E Championship. It was also the first Indian team to participate in the FIM MotoGPTM World Motorcycle Racing Championship series in 2011 and the Italian National Motorcycle Racing Championship (CIV) in 2012.

Mahindra is known for competing in Moto3TM as both a team and manufacturer. From 2015, India’s first and only MotoGPTM manufacturer will concentrate on strengthening the development programme of its successful Mahindra MGP3O Moto3TM motorcycle and will no longer run its own factory team. The decision to concentrate on machine development as a full-scale constructor only strengthens Mahindra’s commitment to top-level two wheeled racing. Mahindra’s bold decision to take on the world’s best at the highest level of motorcycle racing has won the team a number of prestigious awards in India.

Mahindra Racing enters the second Formula E season as one of eight manufacturers developing its own electric powertrain to power its quartet of racing cars. With this second generation Mahindra Racing car, the M2Electro, the team hopes to build on the success of the inaugural FIA Formula E Championship. Working together with Mahindra Reva – an electric car company whose sole aim is to develop and produce an affordable compact electric car – and service provider Campos Racing, the Mahindra Racing Formula E Team is in good hands.

Visit us at http://www.mahindraracing.com