Formula E: Rowland to race for Mahindra next season
Oliver Rowland has been confirmed as Mahindra Racing’s new driver for season eight of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship.
Rowland has competed in three full seasons of Formula E, with one race win and five podium finishes to his name, including in the season finale in Berlin back in August.
It is a return to the Mahindra team for Rowland, having made his Formula E debut with Mahindra at Punta del Este in 2015, stepping in for the injured Nick Heidfeld after the German’s crash in Putrajaya.
Commenting on his move, Rowland said: “I’m very excited to be joining Mahindra Racing for Season 8. Moving to a new team there will of course be a transition but I think that, with the combination of my experience in Formula E and the team’s results last season, we have the potential to achieve some great things together.”
Rowland replaces the outgoing Alex Lynn and will partner Alexander Sims next year as Mahindra Racing retains its all-British lineup on the grid.
Sims said: “I’ve enjoyed working with everyone at the team this season and we’ve learned a lot as the year progressed and have secured some strong results. There’s the potential to achieve more in Season 8 and we’ll be working hard to apply the learnings from this season into the next. I’m really looking forward to working with Oliver who’s clearly very fast and a great racer.”
Team Principal Dilbagh Gill added: “We’re very happy to welcome Oliver back to the Mahindra Racing family. After starting out his Formula E career with us in 2015, he has a proven record in the series as a strong qualifier and a strong racer. I believe we have one of the strongest driver line-ups on the grid and am delighted that Alexander will be racing with the team for another year.
“It will be the last year of racing before we move to the Gen3 era and Mahindra Racing is looking forward to continuing its journey in Formula E, which started back in 2013 when we were the first manufacturer to sign up to the championship.
“We would like to thank Alex Lynn for his contribution to the team over the last season and a half – we have made some unforgettable memories together and he’ll always have a special place in Mahindra Racing’s history books.”
