MAHINDRA WORKING TOWARDS FRENCH RENAISSANCE
With three races done and with the European season gathering pace, the Mahindra team is relishing the challenge of round four at France’s classic racing venue – Le Mans.
It is the first visit to the challenging Bugatti circuit for the Moto3™ class, and the new-generation 250cc four-stroke racers have been setting new standards and winning new fans. Close exciting racing is guaranteed, as 33 young riders vie to make their mark.
The majority ride over-the-counter production racers from established racing factories.
The Mahindra team is taking a more difficult but more rewarding path. The MGP-30 machines are all-independent, with a unique chassis and a shared-development specialist power unit.
Early-days results have been promising. With the white-and-red machines still at the beginning of development, riders Danny Webb (21, England) and Marcel Schrötter (19, Germany) are already knocking on the door of the top-15 points-scoring positions.
Webb achieved a best-so-far at the last round in Portugal, qualifying 18th. But his chances were scuppered by a technical issue in the race leading to a retirement. Back at base in Italy, Mahindra Racing’s team of experienced engineers have been working hard with a focus on improved reliability before a number of planned performance enhancements are implemented on the new bike.
At Le Mans riders Danny and Marcel will be making maximum use of the MGP-30’s fine handling on the 2.60- mile (4.186-km) circuit’s twisty layout and long corners, and using every trick in the book to put the MGP-30 in the points.
DANNY WEBB
But for a little problem in Portugal I felt we could have had the first points for the MGP-30. Le Mans will be another chance. I have a new engine; we need to get the chassis dialled in and everything working right, and then we’ll see what we can do.
MARCEL SCHRÖTTER
It’s been tough so far, but step by step I get more confident. I had some problems off the start in Portugal and lost too many places, but when I got past them again I had a good steady pace, but too far away to do better than 19th. I need a better start at Le Mans.
About Mahindra Racing
Mahindra Racing is the first Indian team to participate in the FIM MotoGP™ World Motorcycle Racing Championship (in 2011) and the Italian National Motorcycle Racing Championship (CIV, in 2012).
On the world stage, the Indian factory team signed off its 2011 debut season on a high note with action packed performances by both its riders. Marcel Schrötter finished 15th overall in the 125cc Rider’s Championship and the team finished a strong third overall in the Constructor’s Championship. Danny Webb made history when he secured pole position in Valencia in the last race of the 125cc era. The team takes this learning into its participation in the all new Moto3™ class which replaced the 125cc class from the 2012 season onwards.
In the CIV in Italy, the team has teamed up Indian rider Sarath Kumar with ex Italian Champion Riccardo Moretti in the 125 GP Class. The team became the first from India to win an international motorsport event when Riccardo took the chequered flag at the season-opening race of the CIV in Mugello, Italy on 25 March, 2012. Another brilliant victory on the Imola circuit on 8 April, 2012, established Moretti and his team firmly at the top of the standings
About The Mahindra Group
The Mahindra Group focuses on enabling people to rise. Mahindra operates in the key industries that drive economic growth, enjoying a leadership position in tractors, utility vehicles, information technology and vacation ownership. Mahindra has a presence in the automotive industry, agribusiness, aerospace, components, consulting services, defence, energy, financial services, industrial equipment, logistics, real estate, retail, steel and two wheelers.
A US $14.4 billion multinational group based in Mumbai, India, Mahindra employs more than 144,000 people in over 100 countries.
In 2011, Mahindra featured on the Forbes Global 2000 list, a listing of the biggest and most powerful listed companies in the world. Dun & Bradstreet also ranked Mahindra at No. 1 in the automobile sector in its list of India’s Top 500 Companies. In 2010, Mahindra featured in the Credit Suisse Great Brands of Tomorrow.
In 2011, Mahindra acquired a majority stake in Korea’s SsangYong Motor Company.
