Bethonie WaringFormula 2 race winner Jehan Daruvala joins Mahindra as reserve driver for the 2022-23 season.
Daruvala finished seventh in the 2022 Formula 2 championship, where he raced with Prema Racing for this third season in the series.
The Indian racer has attracted attention from multiple Formula 1 teams. Since 2020 he has been part of the Red Bull Junior Team, and has completed three tests with McLaren.
He will now join the Formula E paddock as Mahindra’s reserve driver, and will be trackside for a number of events, including the inaugural Hyderabad E-Prix.
“We are delighted to welcome Jehan to our team,” said Mahindra chair person Asha Kharga. “As a founding member, Mahindra racing has diligently worked towards promoting Formula E globally and we are pleased to bring a young, accomplished Indian race driver to this fantastic sport.
“Jehan, with his experience and results across single-seaters, will add a great wealth of knowledge to our development program. With Formula E’s debut race in India, this is an especially exciting year for us, and we are excited to give the Indian fans a truly global experience.”
Daruvala will also take on duties in the simulator, providing race support for Mahindra’s Lucas Di Grassi and Oliver Rowland.
“To be a part of an Indian motorsport team is a dream come true,” he said. “Formula E is very competitive and I am really excited about this new chapter of my career. Season 9 promises to be very exciting with the all-new Gen 3 car and I am looking forward to learning and contributing, especially to car development and supporting the team.
“Mahindra Racing’s pioneering efforts in promoting sustainability globally are commendable and I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute.”
Formula E this year will introduce a new regulation, similar to that featured in Formula 1, stating that all teams must field a rookie driver in two free practice sessions this year. When or if Daruvala will run in one of these sessions is yet to be announced.
Image courtesy of Mahindra Racing
