Karun Chandhok among first eight Formula E drivers

India's second Formula 1 driver Karun Chandhok is among eight drivers who have confirmed their participation in the inaugural all-electric FIA Formula E Championship that is scheduled to commence from this September.

Chandhok had earlier expressed his interest in racing in Formula E and is likely to race with India's Mahindra Racing who had confirmed their participation in December as well as admitting to have contacted both Chandhok and India's first F1 driver - as well as its most successful Formula 3 driver - Narain Karthikeyan.

The line-up of ten teams that would compete in Formula E was completed with teams such as Virgin Racing, Super Aguri and Audi's preferred customer team Abt Sportsline confirming their participation.

Sebastien Buemi ( in second picture), Lucas di Grassi, Takuma Sato and Vitantonio Liuzzi are the ex-F1 drivers along with Chandhok who will be part of Formula E's 'Driver Club' from which the teams will select who will race for them. Di Grassi of Brazil and Sato of Japan competed in F1 with Virgin Racing and Super Aguri, respectively. Both teams had to end their involvement with F1 due to financial issues.

Marco Andretti (in third picture), whose father Michael (son of F1 legend Mario) is the owner and team principal of Andretti Autosport - which will compete in Formula E - has been racing for the Indycar outfit since 2010 and finished fifth in the championship standings last season with two podiums and six top five finishes.

Caterham F1's reserve and test driver Ma Qing Hua of China also confirmed his participation along with Adrien Tambay, son of former F1 driver Patrick.

The 22-year-old has been competing in the German touring car championship (DTM) for Abt Sportsline in an Audi.

Ten more drivers will complete the 'Drivers Club' to create a 'draft' similar to the method of choosing team participants in professional sports leagues in the United States.