India will embark on a brand new motorsport journey subsequent week, 10 years after the unceremonious exit of System 1. System E – an all-electric racing collection – will descend upon Telangana on February 10-11 for the primary ever Indian race – the Hyderabad E-Prix.
Now in its ninth season, System E is a standard single-seater championship that was conceived in 2011 and debuted in 2014 with one main distinction – all the things from the brakes to the engine is powered by an electrical battery and 0 gas.
Guidelines, rules, factors, drivers, groups – most points are designed and styled on System 1, which is the top of motorsport. However the collection appears in the direction of a sustainable future whereas lowering carbon footprint.
Just one driver has seen the game evolve from the primary ever System E race – the 2014 Beijing E-Prix – to the Hyderabad E-Prix that shall be held on the banks of Hussain Sagar Lake on February 11 – Lucas di Grassi.
The Brazilian is probably the most skilled and likewise probably the most profitable driver on the System E grid with 103 races and 13 victories, additionally clinching the 2016-17 drivers’ championship. The Hyderabad E-Prix won’t simply be another race for the 38-year-old as he shall be one of many two drivers for Mahindra Racing – together with Oliver Rowland – the one Indian workforce on the grid.
“Having nations as huge and necessary as India internet hosting its first ever System E race has big significance for the game. It opens up new markets for producers. So, having an Indian race is unimaginable for the entire collection,” the previous System 1 driver stated on a video name from the Mahindra Racing base in Banbury.
Groups like Mahindra, Nissan, Porsche, Jaguar, Maserati are presently racing in System E with the thought of selling their electrical automobiles in newer markets.
After eight seasons with Audi and Venturi, di Grassi had a superb begin with Mahindra, taking pole within the Mexico Metropolis E-Prix – the primary race of the season – on January 14. He finally completed third however the subsequent two races in Diriyah didn’t ship anticipated outcomes as the previous champion completed thirteenth and fifteenth. However the 38-year-old hopes to show issues round in Mahindra’s house race that shall be held on the 2.8km, 18-turn Hyderabad Road Circuit which is able to host the fourth of the 16-race calendar.
“My understanding is that it’s a very quick observe with numerous overtaking alternatives. It is vitally technical and shall be very tough which is able to current the groups with an enormous problem,” stated di Grassi, who’s also called ‘Mr System E’. “You have to be very aggressive as a driver but in addition very environment friendly. It will be extraordinarily scorching which presents a distinct type of problem.”
Mahindra additionally signed up System 2 racer Jehan Daruvala as a reserve driver in December 2022. Whereas Daruvala will proceed to drive in F2, he’ll continue learning about System E, engaged on the simulator, serving to in automotive improvement and race help to the workforce.
“Jehan is a good child. He’s a gifted driver, coming alongside and creating in System E proper now. He’s studying with each race within the simulator. If he has a future or not in System E… time will inform however we positively want Indian racers as India is an important market,” stated di Grassi, who shall be flying into India on Wednesday for his third go to to the nation.
