Jehan Daruvala, the Indian racing prodigy, has joined Mahindra Racing as the team's reserve driver for Season 9 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, informed Mahindra & Mahindra on Wednesday.
The 24-year-old driver, who just finished three F1 tests with McLaren, is the first and only Indian to win an F2 race.
Four-time Formula 2 race champion Jehan has a distinguished single-seater career. He has also placed on the podium frequently. He advanced quickly through the junior formula ranks to the FIA Formula 3 Championship in 2019, where he earned two victories and placed third in his rookie season. After that, he was promoted to FIA Formula 2, where he has spent the last three seasons having an impact on the track. He competed for the Indian team Mumbai Falcons in the 2021 F3 Asian Championship and finished third. He recorded three race victories, five podium finishes, three pole positions, and the fastest laps.
As per a press release by Mahindra, Jehan will spend time at the team's Banbury headquarters working on the simulator with engineers to support Lucas Di Grassi and Oliver Rowland's vehicle development and racing efforts. He is expected to take part in a few competitions, including the team's first domestic ePrix in Hyderabad, which is set for February 2023.
Daruvala said, "To be a member of an Indian motorsport team is a dream come true." Asked about joining the Mahindra Racing squad, he said, “I am quite enthusiastic about this new phase of my career because Formula E is a very competitive sport. With the brand-new Gen 3 car, Season 9 looks to be really exciting, and I am looking forward to learning and contributing, particularly to car development and helping the team. The innovative work being done by Mahindra Racing to advance sustainability around the world is admirable, and I am honoured to have the chance to participate.”
The ABB FIA Formula E World Championship brings all-electric racing to the cities around the world. The racing, which features more automakers on the grid than any other motorsport, is not only one of the world's most exciting racing series, but also a world-class testing ground for race-to-road electric cars and sustainable transportation technology.
Mahindra Racing is a founding team – and the only Indian team – to compete in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship.