Mahindra Racing announces big changes for 2020-21 Formula E season
As the 2020/21 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship nears the beginning of its seventh season, Mahindra Racing has unveiled an all-British drivers’ lineup comprising Alexander Sims and Alex Lynn in a virtual launch broadcast hosted by electric mobility enthusiast, part-time musician, broadcaster and 1996 Formula 1 World Champion, Damon Hill.
After unveiling Alexander Sims in August, the team has now confirmed Alex Lynn as his teammate, who raced for Mahindra in the Season Six Finale in Berlin. The 27-year-old’s career highlights include the 2014 GP3 Series crown, and victories in prestigious events including the Macau Grand Prix, Sebring 12 Hours and Le Mans 24 Hours. He is a multiple race winner in the GP2 series and has Formula E experience, having competed in a total of 27 races, with his best result coming in Berlin earlier this year. Meanwhile, Nick Heidfeld, who has been a part of the team since Season 2, continues in his role as official test and reserve driver and special advisor.
Speaking about his inclusion in the Mahindra Racing team, Alex Lynn said, “I’m incredibly excited to be back for Season 7 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship and to be a part of Mahindra Racing. I’ve had the opportunity of driving the M7Electro on numerous test days and we’re all pretty proud of what we’ve come up with. We won’t know our competitiveness fully until the lights go out in Santiago, but we are here to consistently fight for wins and podiums; that’s what the team go racing for and so do I. From that side I’m extremely excited and focused to be delivering the results that this hard-working team deserves.”
Lynn’s excitement was echoed by teammate Alexander Sims, who added, “I’ve spent the last few months embedding myself into Mahindra Racing, getting to know everyone and learning how everyone works, which has been great. We’ve done a lot of simulator testing, which has been extremely helpful, but it’s the track testing that we’ve done that has been invaluable and has gone well. It’s difficult to draw performance comparisons, but what I have got a feeling of is the system and software, which is crucial, and ZF have done a good job on the hardware side with the powertrain. Until we get to Valencia testing and the races, we won’t know where we are competitive-wise, but the initial feelings seem good and we are working flat out to continue to fine-tune and optimise our package. I am so looking forward to seeing what it’s like to drive in the races and getting our teeth into the season.”
The next big announcement was the unveil of the M7Electro. This season’s racecar retains its striking red, white and blue colour scheme, but sports a redesigned livery. And underneath the cover of the M7Electro is the first ZF-developed powertrain; the integrated team of Mahindra Racing and ZF engineers have worked tirelessly to produce a competitive new package for the season, despite the challenging circumstances that 2020 has brought.
Also new for Season 7 is a technical innovation for the M7Electro’s transmission system, in conjunction with team partner Shell, which has developed a dedicated e-Transmission fluid for the M7Electro. This e-Transmission fluid enhances the efficiency of the transmission to deliver further optimised on-track performance. Further, Mahindra Racing will continue its association, now in its fourth year, with Belgian-based design and engineering resources brand Voxdale.
Next, Mahindra Racing has introduced Maurice Lacroix as its Official Timekeeper. The Swiss watchmaking brand has over 20 years of association with motorsport, almost ten years of which have been dedicated simply towards e-mobility (starting with Fisker Automotive in 2011).
Additionally, Italian motorsport protective apparel brand OMP Racing also joins Mahindra Racing ahead of Season 7 as the team’s official driver wear supplier. With experience in designing and manufacturing safety components used in global championships including F1, WRC, WEC, WTCC, Indycar and NASCAR as well as being an official supplier to the FIA, this partnership with Mahindra Racing sees the brand joining Formula E for the first time. OMP has recently acquired both Bell Racing Helmets Group and Zeronoise, the latter of which is the company behind the innovative ‘Driver’s Eye’ camera footage in Formula E.
Speaking about the various new announcements and looking back at Mahindra Racing’s Formula E journey thus far, Team Principal Dilbagh Gill called it an incredibly exciting time for Mahindra Racing, adding, “We are heading into the championship’s (and the team’s!) seventh year in Formula E, and the first year ever as a World Championship series. Formula E has gone from strength to strength over this time and we are extremely proud to have been part of that journey from the very beginning. I am delighted to see the Mahindra Racing family grow this season with Maurice Lacroix and OMP joining the team.
“I am looking forward to another season with the support of ZF Friedrichshafen AG, Shell and Voxdale. The team has been working incredibly hard to develop the M7Electro challenger and, with a strong driver pairing of Alexander Sims and Alex Lynn, I am confident that we will be back to securing podiums this season.”
Mahindra Racing will test the M7Electro at the all-teams pre-season test from November 28 to 1 December 1, 2020 at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Valencia, Spain. The 2020/21 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship kick offs with a double-header in Santiago, Chile on January 16-17, 2021.
