In a shock announcement forward of subsequent weekend’s Jakarta E-Prix double-header, Mahindra Racing have revealed that ex-Manor Marussia F1 Workforce driver Roberto Merhi can be changing Oliver Rowland, who has departed the group after spending eighteen months with the Indian producer.
It was introduced by the group Sunday morning {that a} “mutual settlement” had been reached between Rowland and the facet for the Briton to vacate his seat for the remaining seven races of the 2022/23 ABB FIA Method E World Championship, beginning subsequent weekend in Indonesia.
Having joined Mahindra at first of Season Eight, Rowland has loved minimal success, along with his greatest outcome with the group having been second within the first race of the season finale double-header in Seoul final August. This 12 months has been a catastrophe thus far for Rowland, who’s reportedly not been happy with the progress made by Mahindra’s Gen3 powertrain, which is arguably the weakest on the grid.
Rowland has claimed simply two factors finishes this 12 months, with the Briton having completed sixth in Hyderabad and tenth within the second of two races in Berlin. His departure maybe exhibits among the frustrations amongst the group, who’ve did not construct on from Lucas di Grassi‘s podium on the season-opener.
Merhi enters the facet having pushed for them within the latest Rookie take a look at in Berlin, the place he impressed Workforce Principal Frederic Bertrand. The skilled Spaniard will at the very least have extra time to stand up to hurry than regular subsequent weekend on condition that it’s a double-header, with him being “decided” and “up for the problem” of competing within the difficult sequence.
“It’s an enormous honour for me to step in and characterize Mahindra Racing for the races in Jakarta. I’m extremely grateful for the chance and I’m decided to profit from it. I had an opportunity to drive the M9Electro on the rookie take a look at in Berlin however Method E may be very completely different to any of the opposite sequence I’ve raced in so the educational curve can be steep. However I really feel prepared, excited and up for the problem.”
Workforce boss Bertrand additionally shared how “delighted” the Banbury-based group are to be welcoming Merhi into the facet, who he expects to “slot into the group brilliantly”.
“We’re delighted to welcome Roberto to the Mahindra Racing group. Roberto has spectacular expertise in top-level racing and a great monitor file in main championships. He had an awesome run with us on the Rookie Check in Berlin final month and we might see he had the potential to turn out to be an awesome asset for the Mahindra Racing group. It’s not simple to leap in mid-season, however Roberto has expertise of working with the group, so I’m positive he’ll slot into the group brilliantly.”
In keeping with The Race, Mahindra regarded into the potential for having reserve driver Jehan Daruvala substitute Rowland subsequent weekend; nonetheless, the Indian driver is tied-up along with his Method 2 commitments for MP Motorsport in Barcelona.
Whether or not Daruvala may very well be used past Jakarta stays to be seen, with Mahindra having thus far solely confirmed Merhi for subsequent weekend’s tenth and eleven rounds of the season.
Following his “mutual” exit, Rowland’s time in Method E may very well be over, with him having made his debut in a one-off look for Mahindra, funnily sufficient, on the Punta del Este E-Prix in Season Two (2015). His first full marketing campaign within the all-electric sequence didn’t come till Season 5, when he was signed by Nissan. Rowland went on to finish three seasons for the Japanese producer, earlier than switching to Mahindra forward of the ultimate season of the Gen2 period.
Ought to he by no means return to the championship, then he at the very least leaves as a Method E race winner, along with his sole victory having come again within the COVID-19 affected Season Six, the place he received the fifth of six races on the Tempelhof Airport Circuit, Berlin.
