Mahindra Racing: India In MotoGP

Indians need only an Indian connection to make something ours. Every time a non-resident Indian does something big, our chests puff up with pride – whether it’s a fifth-grader winning a spelling bee contest or an Indian entrepreneur selling his start-up for millions of dollars. It was exactly this sense of ownership that Vijay Mallya counted on when he named his Formula 1 team, Force India. For a long time, the only thing Indian about the team was the name but in 2011, Sahara joined the fray and Indianised the team a wee bit more by calling it Sahara Force India. For newly converted Indian F1 fans, Force India is an Indian team and nothing is more important than its misfortunes and successes.

By that logic, Mahindra Racing also should’ve enjoyed the same degree of support, because not only is it owned by one of India’s biggest home-grown brand, but in just two years of its entry in two-wheel racing, it has managed to establish itself as a title contender and is the first Indian team to win an international championship. Mahindra Racing entered the Italian National Motorcycle Racing Championship (CIV) in 2012 and won the CIV Constructor's Cup. In 2013, the team is competing in the 2013 FIM Moto3 World Championship, and has built its own 4- stroke, single-cylinder, 250cc motorcycle: the Mahindra MGP3O, developed with experienced Swiss firm, Suter Racing Technology AG. The experience of Spanish rider Efrén Vázquez (26, from Bilbao) and the pace of Portuguese teenager Miguel Oliveira (18, from Pragal near Lisbon) has already seen the team collect 28 points. Oliveira also won Mahindra their first pole of the season at Assen in June.

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Yet most of India is still ignorant of how Mahindra, the maker of cars like Scorpio and XUV, came to be a part of the FIM MotoGP World but Mufaddal Choonia, the CEO of Mahindra Racing isn’t worried because he believes that “the team has captured the attention of those who matter”, he tells FHM India…

What was Mahindra’s goal when it entered the world of two-wheeler racing?

The two-wheel racing series that Mahindra Racing is part of – the FIM MotoGP World Motorcycle Racing Championship is considered to be the pinnacle of motorcycle racing in the world. It is a platform where the best in the world compete. Participation in this elite championship provides us with a fantastic platform to showcase brand Mahindra to the world. It also helps us develop and test cutting edge 2-wheeler technology, which will help us immensely in our 2-wheeler business going forward.

You've slowly but surely been going from strength to strength. What has been the most difficult part of the process?

From a purely racing point of view, it’s been the relatively short time we have had to make a mark on the sport and to prove to the world that an Indian motorcycle racing team can compete with the best in the world. Others have been in the sport for many years – we have been in it for less than three. So in a way we have to achieve success in a relatively shorter span of time.

What has been the response in India to Mahindra's involvement and subsequent progress in the series?

Indians love sports. Moreover, motorsports is turning out to be an important area of interest for India. Young Indians are especially drawn to it. Mahindra Racing’s Facebook page with over 885,000 fans, one of the highest for any racing team in the world, indicates the kind of response and interest we are receiving from racing enthusiasts here. And this response has been the catalyst in our hunger for results.

How has the reception been, internationally, to an Indian company entering the fray of motor racing?

The world of top-tier motorcycle racing is highly competitive, with the best factory racing teams in the world taking part in this championship. As an Indian motorcycle manufacturer, we have grown to be a respected team thanks to what we’ve achieved in a relatively short span of time. We created history by becoming the first Indian team to win the Constructors Title in 2012 at the CIV in the 125cc class. This year in the Moto3 World Championship, we have been consistently getting top 5 results and have even secured a pole position on the starting grid, besides circuit lap records at 2 international circuits. Accomplishments such as these and the fact that we’ve engineered our own world-class 250cc racing bike have created a huge amount of respect and goodwill for Mahindra and for Indian engineering skills.

What did you keep in mind while selecting your drivers?

A team’s riders are as important as the technology and the racing bikes it develops. There are a lot of aspects that need to be looked into and it is an extremely complicated process. There are just too many variables, including past performance and future potential. We therefore have talent scouts in our team who keep an eye out for that kind of talent.

How have you tried to generate interest in India about the team and the championships?

It has largely been social media driven. Today's youth is completely connected to their favourite brands online. We have always tried to stay connected with the fans by giving them information on the team, sharing images from international races, uploading videos, and giving our fans an opportunity to interact with our riders and team staff by conducting online chats etc. Also, the fact that in India, Moto3 reaches close to 32 million homes and channels like Ten Sports telecast more than 125 hours of live motorcycle racing go a long way in promoting the sport.

Efrén Vázquez Rodríguez

Born on: September 2nd, 1986

Height: 1.60 cm

Weight: 58 kg

Hometown: Rekalde, Spain

Race Number: 7

Other Hobbies: Cycling, running, cinema and anything that has wheels and burns gasoline

Efrén was born in Bilbao, Spain with gasoline running through his veins. His father, a passionate fan of motorcycle racing, inculcated his love for motorbikes and speed in Efrén from an early age. And it did not take long for Efrén to get hooked. By the age of 4, he was already riding a mini-motorbike, and by the age of 8 he had started participating in local competitions.

The unwavering support of his family and his own precocious talent made him the three-time Mini Moto Double Champion of Bizcaia and Euskadi in 1995, 1996, and 1997. After six years of racing in Spain (2001-2006), Efrén made his debut in FIM MotoGP in 2007. In November 2012, he joined Mahindra Racing and will represent the team in the 2013 Moto3TM World Championship. He finished 10th in the 2012 FIM MotoGP World Championship Moto3.

Miguel Oliveira

Born on: January 4th, 1995

Height: 170cm

Weight: 59kg

Hometown: Pragal, Portugal

Race Number: 44

Other Hobbies: Sports, Science & Technology

Miguel Oliveira started his international career in 2004. Eight years of dedicated effort has made him one of the most valuable riders in the Motorcycle Racing World. The 17-year-old proudly represented Portugal at the highest level in the FIM MotoGPTM World Championship in 2011. In November 2012, Miguel joined Mahindra Racing and will represent the team in the 2013 Moto3TM World Championship. Still in the process of completing his studies, Miguel is currently in the twelfth grade, studying Science and Technology. He secured his first podium at the Catalunia Aperol Moto3 Grand Prix in 2012.

From the August 2013 issue of FHM India.