Mahindra Racing Confirm Karun Chandhok, Bruno Senna as Formula E Drivers
Karun Chandhok and Bruno Senna bring with them a strong working relationship, having already raced as team-mates for Hispania Racing Team (HRT) in 2010 Formula One season.
Mahindra Racing on Monday confirmed that Karun Chandhok and Bruno Senna will be the Indian team's drivers for the inaugural FIA Formula E Championship beginning in September.
Neither Chandhok nor Senna are strangers to the international racing scene, having both competed in Formula One. Representing the only Indian team in the world's first fully-electric racing series, Chennai-born Chandhok and Brazilian Senna bring with them a strong working relationship, having already raced as team-mates for Hispania Racing Team (HRT) in 2010 Formula One season.
SP Shukla, chairman of Mahindra Racing, said: "Both Karun and Bruno come with very strong racing pedigrees and have successfully competed in a variety of racing series over the past few years. The entire team looks forward to working with both of them to optimise the performance of our racing car over the next few months of testing before the start of racing in September this year."
Chandhok, 30, said: "I'm very excited to be a part of the Mahindra Racing line-up. The team are showing a lot of commitment to Formula E and it's very encouraging to see the support of senior members of the group to this programme. To be a part of the only Indian team in this series is a real honour for me. It's also going to be a nice reunion for me with Bruno again. He's one of my closest friends from the racing world; we respect each other and work well together which will be good for the development of the team."
Senna, also 30, added: "There is a real ambition within the team to be leaders in Formula E from the start. It's also an exciting prospect to be part of such a revolutionary championship from the beginning."
To date, six of the 20 drivers (two per team) have been confirmed with Lucas di Grassi and Daniel Abt signing for Audi Sport ABT, in addition to Jaime Alguersuari and Sam Bird, who join Virgin Racing.
Racing entirely on temporary city-centre race tracks, Formula E uses cars capable of speeds in excess of 150mph (225kph).
The first of 10 races takes place in Beijing around the iconic Olympic 'Bird's Nest' Stadium with the season finale taking place in London on June 27.