Chandhok expresses interest in Formula E, in discussions with Mahindra

With Mahindra announcing their participation in the inaugural FIA Formula E Championship to be held on during from September 2014 to June 2015, the attention has focused to who will be driving Indian automaker's entry in the all-electric racing championship.

India's second Formula 1 driver Karun Chandhok told autoX he has been in discussions with Mahindra regarding a race seat in Formula E well before today's announcement.

"It is something that I would be interested to do and one of the things that attracts me about the series is that the races will be held on street circuits which I have always enjoyed" said Chandhok who retired from the lead of the 2009 GP2 sprint race in Monaco. "Mahindra have shown interest in having me as a driver so let's see where things go from here."

India's first F1 driver Narain Karthikeyan had earlier told autoX that he too had been approached by Mahindra for a Formula E drive but had to turn down the offer. Karthikeyan has had a long standing association with TATA Motors, who have supported him since his British Formula 3 racing days.

Karthikeyan did, however, admit that Formula E was something that he believed could be a relevant and exciting racing series.

Chandhok too praised the budget-capped championship (at approximately 3 million euros), which has already managed to lure German auto major Audi into fielding a team through the Abt Sportsline team.

"Electric vehicles is a direction that many auto manufacturers are moving towards," said Chandhok. "So I can see Formula E becoming a great platform for auto manufacturers to test new technologies."

Another factor that Chandhok said would allow him to consider racing in Formula E is the fact that the championship's calendar does not clash with any dates of the FIA World Endurance Championship, which includes the 24 Hours of Le Mans.