Just Electric

Mahindra to debut Season 6 powertrain at Goodwood

Mahindra Racing will become the first team to publicly début their Season 6 powertrain when the team runs one of their M6Electro’s at the famous Goodwood Festival of Speed.

Driving the car will be Nick Heidfeld, who has stayed on at the team as the test and reserve driver in addition to an advisory role.

Heidfeld made a name for himself in 1999 as the test driver for the McLaren F1 team when he broke the record with a 41.60 second run up the 1.16-mile course, a record which still stands to this day.

The German driver also holds the record for the fastest time in an electric open-wheeler with a 48.59 second run in a Mahindra M4Electro in 2017.

The course itself runs on the estate of Lord March, the 11th Duke of Richmond and has a total elevation difference of 92.7m.

Heidfeld’s run up the hill in 1999 has been etched into the legend of the event and the Duke of Richmond still has fond memories of it to this day saying: “Nick’s achievement on the hill in 1999 was an electrifying performance, right on the edge.

“It still sends shivers down my spine when I watch it.

“For a very young driver who was eager to make his way in the sport, it’s hard to imagine how important it was to make sure that his run was memorable for all the right reasons – and he delivered in consummate style.

“In the years that have followed, Nick has fulfilled that early potential in abundance in a distinguished F1 career, together with his many sports car racing successes and with Mahindra at the forefront in Formula E.

“It is fantastic that we now have the chance to look back on that run together and I look forward to seeing him, his record-breaking car from 20 years ago and the Mahindra Formula E Gen2 car at the Festival of Speed this weekend.”

Heidfeld himself is also looking forward to returning to the place where he made a name for himself adding: “I have been coming to the Goodwood Festival of Speed for as long as I can remember – at least 20 years as that’s the anniversary of my first hillclimb record, which is just crazy!

“It’s going to be interesting to see if my record is going to be broken this year because it was close in 2018, but I am back to challenge the open-wheel eRecord with the new Mahindra Racing Gen2 car.

“Goodwood Festival of Speed is very special to me because you see cars that you dream of and it has something to offer for all automotive enthusiasts; four wheels, two wheels, new and old cars – there is a lot of variations to see.

“It is great to see more support every year for electric mobility and the crowds never disappoint, so let’s hope I can entertain them again.”

Mahindra’s boss, Dilbagh Gill is feeling confident that the record will be broken at the weekend saying: “When you think of Goodwood Festival of Speed, you think of Nick Heidfeld and we were never going to miss the opportunity of sending him back up the Goodwood hill on the 20th Anniversary of his first record.

“Mahindra Racing is back to show the crowds just how far Formula E has come with the M6Electro.

“Most people will remember when Nick set a new record in the M4Electro and that was impressive but the Gen2 cars are faster than ever, so it would be great to head to New York with a new open-wheel eRecord!”

 

Image Credit: Mahindra Racing

Rob Lomas

Privacy Policy

Click here to read our Privacy Policy.

%d bloggers like this: