Aditya ChaudhuriFormula E team Mahindra Racing have announced Jehan Daruvala as their team’s reserve driver for the ninth season of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship.
Mahindra have stated that the Indian driver’s main role will be to work on the simulator with the engineers and provide car development and race support for Mahindra Racing’s drivers Lucas di Grassi and Oliver Rowland.
The team have also stated that they will be looking to have Daruvala attend a couple of races during the season, including their inaugural home ePrix race, which is set to take place in Hyderabad in February 2023.
Also read: A conversation with Jehan Daruvala
The 24-year-old, who is the first and only Indian to have won races in Formula 2, has been a member of the Red Bull junior team since 2020. Daruvala is a four-time race winner in F2 and has a best of a seventh-place finish in the Championships, in 2021 and 2022. Daruvala has also had multiple Formula One tests with McLaren during the 2022 season.
After having a tough year during his first year with Prema Racing, which resulted in only a single victory, Daruvala will be hoping for a more successful season in F2 in 2023.
Jehan Daruvala commented:
“To be a part of an Indian motorsport team is a dream come true. Formula E is very competitive, and I am really excited about this new chapter of my career. Season 9 promises to be very exciting with the all-new Gen 3 car and I am looking forward to learning and contributing, especially to car development and supporting the team. Mahindra Racing’s pioneering efforts in promoting sustainability globally are commendable and I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute.“
Asha Kharga, Chairperson, Mahindra Racing, added:
“We are delighted to welcome Jehan to our team. As a founding member, Mahindra Racing has diligently worked towards promoting Formula E globally and we are pleased to bring a young, accomplished Indian race driver to this fantastic sport. Jehan, with his experience and results across single-seaters, will add a great wealth of knowledge to our development program. With Formula E’s debut race in India, this is an especially exciting year for us, and we are excited to give the Indian fans a truly global experience.“
The ninth season of Formula E will also see the introduction of the all-new Gen3 cars. After finishing eighth in the Championship last season, Mahindra Racing will be looking to move up ahead in the field.
