Mahindra Racing To Exit Moto3 After 2017 Season

Indian motorsport outfit Mahindra Racing has announced that 2017 will be the last year for them in the Moto3 championship. The main reason for their withdrawal from the motorcycle grand prix is their shift in focus towards making electric vehicles for racing. Mahindra had entered MotoGP in 2011 in the 125cc class.In 2012 season, Mahindra homologated 250cc, single-cylinder, liquid cooled engine developed by Mahindra's Engine Engineering and Oral Engineering.The biked developed - MGP30 weighed just 83 kg. In 2013, Mahindra partenered with Suter Racing technology to develop a new Moto3 bike. From 2015 onwards, Mahindra Racing became a full-scale constructor and supported four customer teams.

In 2014, the MGP3O recorded six top four finishes in the entire season and Mahindra finished third overall in the Moto3 Constructors' rankings at the end of the 2014 season. In 2015, Mahindra Racing became a full scale independent contructor who only supplied engines which indicated their slow withdrawal from the sport. The 2016 Moto3 season proved to be their best year where the outfit managed to secure three wins. The team has failed to make a mark so far in the 2017 season though.

The MGP30 race bike manufactured by Mahindra Racing recorded a total of 13 podium finishes, including three race wins against other established teams in the sport. Mahindra Racing will continue to participate in the Moto3 world championship till the end of the 2017 season. Mahindra Racing currently provides engineering and on-track support for three teams - Aspar, CIP and Peugeot Saxoprint. 

Speaking about the exit, Mahindra Group's president of Group Communications and Ethics, and CEO - Ruzbeh Irani said, "Our strategic review of Mahindra Racing and Mahindra's two-wheeler businesses led us to the decision to withdraw from MotoGP. It has been a tremendous journey, and we would like to thank all of our staff, partners and collaborators who have contributed to our success during our seven years in the sport. Formula E is providing us with an excellent international platform to raise awareness of the Mahindra Group, our technological capabilities and our mobility solutions on a global scale."

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Mahindra Racing has proved to be a stellar outfit in the Formula E racing series and currently stands first in Super Pole results. Mahindra Racing’s Formula E team consists of Felix Rosenqvist, who secured the team’s first ever win at the Berlin e-Prix this year, and Nick Heidfeld. Currently, Mahindra Racing stands third in the constructor’s standings with 149 points. Only Renaul E. Dams (229 points) and Abt Schaeffler Audi Sport (171 points) are above them.