London E-Prix: Senna ends 4th, Chandhok 13th

Mahindra Racing enjoyed their best result in the FIA Formula E Championship as Bruno Senna finished a creditable fourth in the season-ending London E-Prix while his team mate Karun Chandhok of India finished 13th.

Senna’s race included a solid pit stop by his mechanics and a strong few laps of defending his position.

The result meant that Mahindra Racing finished eighth in the championship standings with 58 points.

In the drivers’ championhsip Senna finished 10th on 40 points while Karun was 17th overall as he failed to score points in nine out of 11 rounds.

As the lights went out the London crowd were welcomed to their first racing start of the weekend; and as the cars had made their way to the second lap Senna was in sixth while Chandhok had enjoyed a storming launch to 15th — gaining a strong amount of places.

Over the next few laps the main drama came in the form of Nick Heidfeld who was stuck in the pit-lane entry, and pushing his car back. This was cleared and meant that the track was soon green to go racing once again.

After the pit stop window that included two strong car changes from the Mahindra Racing team, a mistake from championship contender Sebasatien Buemi left the track clear for Senna to reclaim his fifth position.

While in the fight for the drivers’ title Buemi was not best pleased and used the final few laps of the race to push Senna hard. However the Mahindra Racing driver fought harder for the position and made the move impossible for the eDAMs racer, claiming fifth on the road which was elevated when race leader Stephane Sarrazin was handed a drive through penalty on the final lap.

Claiming fourth, Senna ensured that he secured the team’s best result of the season and pushed them up to eighth in the championship. Struggling at the very end with the temperature Chandhok came home in 13th.

“This was the best result of the season for me and also for the Mahindra Racing team. I am very happy to finish the season on a high and to be able to fulfil our potential.

“The battle with Buemi was enjoyable but it was tough when he was tapping me from behind but that’s sometimes how it goes in racing. Overall I am very pleased with how the race went,” Senna said.

Chandhok added, “The first stint was pretty good and I think that we could have got 11th. It’s great to see Bruno get fourth and end strongly for the team.”

Nelson Piquet Jr of e.dams-Renault thus pipped Buemi, driving for Dragon Racing, 144 points to 145 in the overall standings, well ahead of third placed Luca di Grassi in this first-ever FIA Formula E championship.