Di Grassi: 'We're going to push 100%' for Mahindra's home race

Mahindra have been around since day one of Formula E, and in that time the Indian squad have picked up five wins and 24 podiums in the all-electric series. Alongside these accolades they're remembered just as much for their passion towards the sport, calling themselves and their fans the 'passioneers' of Formula E.

"It is a very important race for us, not only for Mahindra but also for Formula E as a whole," said Lucas di Grassi ahead of the 2023 Greenko Hyderabad E-Prix.

"There is only one world championship level motorsport in India, which is us after Formula 1 left a long time ago."

One of the missions of Formula E is to promote an electric future, one race and one city at a time as Hyderabad becomes the 27th location. Former champion, di Grassi acknowledges that Mahindra has been one of the leading forces towards this goal in India.

The Brazilian added: "Formula E is the future, it's electric and Mahindra is already producing electric vehicles here in India, including a new SUV that was launched last week. There's a whole momentum for electric cars here, even electric tuktuks! Electric mobility spans from micro mobility all the way up to trucks.

"There is a lot of potential here in India, but for us of course it is extra special for us, Mahindra is the only Indian manufacturer on the grid. We're going to push 100% to have the best possible race that we can."

Bertrand: "We’ve had a really crazy welcome from everyone"

Di Grassi's sentiments were echoed by Mahindra Racing's CEO, Fred Bertrand: "It’s a great feeling for everyone. I would say it’s giving us a lot of energy – it’s more than excitement. Everybody’s feeling something a bit more this weekend and it’s a massive source of pride being part of something so special."

Bertrand stepped into the lead role for Mahindra ahead of the all-new GEN3 era, and the team immediately grabbed success at the opening round of Season 9, with di Grassi scoring his first Julius Baer Pole Position and a hard fought run to third place in Mexico City.

Ahead of the team's first-ever home race, Bertrand spoke for the assembled media: "We’ve had a really crazy welcome from everyone here and also the whole Mahindra group. It’s a huge family here in India and we have so much support from every member as well as the board. It’s special, and it’s important for us to perform but on top of all, it’s great there’s such excitement in the race for us and for Formula E.

"We’ve been part of Formula E from day one and we’ve celebrated our participation here in India with our visionary chairman, and the group all together. Mr Mahindra was able to see from the beginning the potential of Formula E and its attractiveness as a showcase of EV and future automotive technology.

"We’ve got a sustainable approach to Formula E and it’s become a part of Mahindra’s DNA – it’s a long term thing for the group and it’s supported by everyone across 150 companies. With different people in different businesses and locations in the group, there are so many different skills to draw on and with everybody contributing, creating value for everyone.

"Having an Indian race finally happening is huge for us and everyone at Mahindra is saying we need to do even more than we already do with Formula E – that’s been the best outcome for us so far. We want to make the company proud and we want to perform to reward all the support we get from the group."