A little more than two months before the start of the Gen3 era of Formula E, managers, engineers and drivers of the teams are working at full speed to have ready the car that will take to the track in the awaited season 9.
One of the teams developing the single-seater is ABT, which together with Mahindra Racing, is working hard to return to the series in style.
Unlike a typical manufacturer-private relationship where the flow of technology is unidirectional, multiple DTM title-winning team ABT is providing technical expertise to Mahindra.
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Legends within the Competition
Mahindra and Abt were one of the founding teams of Formula E when the championship began in 2014, and their respective bosses, Dilbagh Gill and Thomas Biermaier, developed a strong friendship over the years in the paddock.
Biermaier said his relationship with Gill was one of the key reasons why ABT chose Mahindra as his powertrain supplier amid a late decision to return to Formula E, although Gill will not be present for the start of the partnership.
The close relationship between the two brands throughout their private testing days has given the feeling among payroll members that something akin to a factory team is being run and not just two customer cars.
Speaking to Motorsport, Biermaier explained that there is clearly a difference between being a full manufacturer and being a customer now, but the way they are developing the project allows them to provide support.
“We want to develop the car, develop the test car with Mahindra and contribute our experience from the last few years. “We are adding up all the testing with four-five-six people. This is pretty good. We are working as a four-car team,” he added.
It is worth noting that despite ABT management highlighting the progress and efforts in the development of the Gen3 electric single-seater, the team has yet to use any of its allocation test days as other teams have.
However, Mahindra and ABT are expected to take to the track with the cars in a test scheduled for the next few weeks.