Mahindra Racing has announced an all-new line-up of Pascal Wehrlein and Jerome D’Ambrosio for the 2018/19 FIA Formula E Championship season.
The Indian outfit will feature a brand new driver line-up in Season 5 of the all-electric series with two former Formula 1 drivers, Wehrlein and D’Amborsio coming together to drive the Mahindra’s M5Electro Gen2 car.
The German makes a switch to Formula E having completed his DTM stint with Mercedes last weekend. He was tipped to join HWA Racelab outfit but has since chosen to commit to Mahindra with the German team going for Gary Paffet and Stoffel Vandoorne.
Wehrlein will be making his debut in the series while it will be D’Ambrosio’s fifth year after the Belgian made his debut in the inaugural season. It also marks an end to his stint with Dragon Racing with him he raced since Season 1.
The ex-F1 driver has scored two wins and five podiums in his Formula E career so far and is an experienced campaigner in the series which will much needed for Mahindra as it will be without the services of Nick Heidfeld and Felix Rosenqvist in racing capacity.
“I’m very happy to be joining Mahindra Racing,” said Wehrlein. “I had the first meeting with Dilbagh in the summer and met the team for the first time at a test event. It’s a small team but with really high ambitions and I have the same high ambitions.
“I want to achieve the best possible results and I have a feeling the team is the right environment for me. I’m looking forward to the season and I will give my best.” D’Ambrosio said: “I’m super excited to join Mahindra Racing.
“I’ve known some people in the team for more than ten years and haven’t managed to work together with them yet and now we are going to have that opportunity, which is a great prospect.
“I think we have a great team and a really dedicated bunch of people with the possibility of doing something great so I am really motivated to make sure that we achieve the results that the team deserves.
“I’ve known Dilbagh for the last four years and what the team has achieved in that time is amazing and has shown great progression and I want to make sure that continues.” As revealed by FormulaRapida.net, Heidfeld will be the reserve.
“I’m excited to enter a new chapter of my career by agreeing a multi-year agreement to become a special advisor to Mahindra Racing,” said Heidfeld. Belgian Sam Dejonghe will continue in his development driver role.
Team principal Dilbagh Gill said: “I am truly thrilled to be able to announce what I believe is one of the most exciting and dynamic driver line-ups on the grid, packed full of talent. We are delighted that Pascal will join the team as he begins a new racing challenge in Formula E.
“As a young and enthusiastic yet incredibly experienced driver, he is a valuable addition to the team. Having Jerome join Mahindra Racing with his years of experience and multiple wins in this championship is something we are also extremely excited about.
“He is very motivated to bring success to Mahindra and has already been working hard behind the scenes preparing for the season.”
Formula E 2018/19 line-up till now:
Venturi: Felipe Massa & Edoardo Mortara
Jaguar Racing: Nelson Piquet Jr & Mitch Evans
Audi: Lucas di Grassi & Daniel Abt
BMW Andretti: Antonio Felix da Costa & Alexander Sims
Nissan: Sebastien Buemi & Alexander Albon
DS Techeetah: Jean-Eric Vergne & Andre Lotterer
Envision Virgin Racing: Sam Bird & Robin Frijns
NIO Formula E Team: Oliver Turvey & Tom Dillmann
HWA Racelab: Gary Paffet & Stoffel Vandoorne
Mahindra Racing: Pascal Wehrlein & Jerome D’Ambrosio
