Mahindra Racing signs Nyck De Vries and Edoardo Mortara for season 10
Mahindra Racing has announced the signing of two prominent drivers, Nyck De Vries and Edoardo Mortara, on multi-year contracts for its Formula E campaign. This is an all-new driver lineup, that replaces Lucas Di Grassi and Roberto Merhi that raced in Season 9 of Formula E. The duo will represent the team in Season 10 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship.
Mahindra Racing is significant as they are the only Indian team on the Formula E grid and one of the founding teams of the sport. With the arrival of De Vries and Mortara, Mahindra Racing aims to revitalise its championship ambitions after facing challenges in Season 9 under the new Gen3 regulations.
Nyck De Vries: Returning to Formula E
Nyck de Vries, the former Formula E champion, is making a comeback to the series. De Vries boasts an impressive motorsport career, starting in karting and achieving championship wins in Formula Renault 2.0 Alps and Eurocup. He climbed the ladder to Formula 2, winning the championship in 2019, and subsequently raced in Formula E with Mercedes-EQ winning the championship in season 7. Last year, he did a brief stint in Formula 1 with Williams and Alpha Tauri.
Nyck De Vries commented on the partnership saying, “It’s really exciting to be joining such a major automotive manufacturer as Mahindra and to represent them in Formula E. I’m particularly excited about the future plans for the team. The basis is already strong, and the team has all the attributes to succeed. I believe going forward we will be able to extract even more potential from the project and the organisation, so to be a part of that process was very appealing for me.”
Edoardo Mortara: A seasoned racer
Edoardo Mortara makes a significant switch to Mahindra Racing for Season 10. The Swiss driver, who previously raced for Venturi and Maserati MSG Racing for six seasons, boasts a rich motorsport history, winning the Formula Three Euroseries and triumphing on the iconic Macau streets in 2010. His partnership with Mahindra Racing, alongside returning champion Nyck de Vries, signifies a fresh challenge in his career after securing multiple podiums and finishing second in the Drivers' standings in the previous season.
Mortara's journey through various Formula E teams, marked by race wins and close championship battles, underscores his status as a formidable contender in the all-electric racing series.
Edoardo Mortara expressed his excitement saying, “Mahindra is also such a big automotive manufacturer, with a worldwide reputation. I’m extremely proud to join and be a representative of this prestigious group. I can’t wait to get started, and I’m sure that if we put in the necessary amount of work, we will be able to be successful in this very competitive championship in the future.”
A new era for Mahindra Racing
The signing of De Vries and Mortara signifies a new era for Mahindra Racing, as they embark on a journey to reestablish themselves as frontrunners in Formula E. The team plans to unveil a new livery for their cars ahead of the season opener in Mexico City on January 13, 2024.
Speaking on the acquisition of De Vries and Mortara, Mahindra Racing CEO Frédéric Bertrand said: “I am delighted to welcome Edo and Nyck to the Mahindra Racing family. As a team, we are all embarking on a journey to bring Mahindra Racing back to the front of the grid in the coming years. With their speed and experience, Nyck and Edo will play a key role in driving the team towards that goal, and I know everybody is feeling very motivated to work with them. Equally important for the team are the drivers’ appetites for a long-term project, which makes them the perfect fit for Mahindra Racing at the beginning of this journey.”
Meanwhile, Jehan Daruvala who was Mahindra Racing’s reserve driver for season 9 has just announced a move to Maserati MSG Racing, replacing none other than Edoardo Mortara. As the excitement builds for Season 10 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, Mahindra Racing's strong driver lineup with a depth of experience could help with the development of their season 10 car and improve their performances from last season.
