Mahindra, DS Virgin launch fan design competitions ahead of third Formula E season - MotorSportsTalk

Two Formula E teams have launched competitions that will see fan designs be part of their entries for the electric racing series’ third season.

Mahindra Racing and DS Virgin Racing both announced initiatives this week that give budding designers the chance to get their work on the grid.

Mahindra previously welcomed fan designs for a street circuit in New Delhi before submitting a selection to the FIA as part of an evaluation for an ePrix.

Now, fans have the opportunity to design the livery for the M3Electro car that Mahindra will race with in season three in collaboration with renowned Italian design house Pininfarina.

Fans can download the kit to design the livery from Mahindra’s Facebook page, with entries being reviewed by Pininfarina’s automotive team.

The designer of the winning livery will get the honor of seeing their work grace Mahindra’s car from Hong Kong to New York, as well as receiving a trip to the Pininfarina headquarters in Italy.

“We want to help Mahindra Racing fans from all over the world to feel part of the team,” Mahindra team principal Dilbagh Gill said.

“It is not just our immediate team that has ingenuity, passion and relentless drive when it comes to our motorsport activities, Mahindra fans have it in plentiful supply as well.

“I am pleased to be able to partner with Pininfarina to offer such an exciting, once-in-a-lifetime prize for this competition.”

For more information on Mahindra’s ‘Driven by Design’ competition, click here.

DS Virgin’s competition offers fans the opportunity to design part of three-time ePrix winner Sam Bird’s helmet for the forthcoming season.

Bird has established himself as one of Formula E’s leading drivers over the past two seasons, leading DS Virgin’s charge across season two, and will pick his favorite design.

“This is a really exciting opportunity for fans of the sport,” Bird said.

“It’s great that I am able to connect with the fans in more ways. I can’t wait to see what everyone comes up with.”

Fans can submit their designs on social media using the hashtag #HelmetDIY or via email, with more details being found here.

The third Formula E season kicks off in Hong Kong on October 9, with pre-season testing starting at the end of August.

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The NBC Sports IndyCar power rankings naturally were as jumbled as the action on the streets of St. Petersburg after a chaotic opener to the 2023 season.

Pato O’Ward, who finished second because of an engine blip that cost him the lead with a few laps remaining, moves into the top spot ahead of St. Pete winner Marcus Ericsson and Alexander Rossi, who finished fourth in his Arrow McLaren debut. Scott Dixon and St. Pete pole-sitter Romain Grosjean (who led 31 laps) rounded out the top five.

St. Pete pole-sitter Romain Grosjean (who started first at St. Pete after capturing his second career pole position) Callum Ilott (a career-best fifth) and Graham Rahal entered the power rankings entering the season’s second race.

Three drivers fell out of the preseason top 10 after the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg – including previously top-ranked Josef Newgarden, who finished 17^th after qualifying 14^th.

Heading into Sunday’s race at Texas Motor Speedway, here’s NBC Sports’ assessment of the current top 10 drivers through the first of 17 races this year (with previous preseason rankings in parenthesis):

NBC Sports’ IndyCar Power Rankings

1. Pato O’Ward (5) – If not for the dreaded “plenum event” in the No. 5 Chevrolet, the Arrow McLaren driver is opening the season with a victory capping a strong race weekend.

2. Marcus Ericsson (7) – He might be the most opportunistic driver in IndyCar, but that’s because the 2022 Indy 500 winner has become one of the series’ fastest and most consistent stars.

3. Alexander Rossi (10) – He overcame a frustrating Friday and mediocre qualifying to open his Arrow McLaren career with the sort of hard-earned top five missing in his last years at Andretti.

4. Scott Dixon (3) – Put aside his opening-lap skirmish with former teammate Felix Rosenqvist, and it was a typically stealthily good result for the six-time champion.

5. Romain Grosjean (NR) – The St. Petersburg pole-sitter consistently was fastest on the streets of St. Petersburg over the course of the race weekend, which he couldn’t say once last year.

6. Scott McLaughlin (6) – Easily the best of the Team Penske drivers before his crash with Grosjean, McLaughlin drove like a legitimate 2023 championship contender.

7. Callum Ilott (NR) – A quietly impressive top five for the confident Brit in Juncos Hollinger Racing’s first race as a two-car team. Texas will be a big oval litmus test.

8. Graham Rahal (NR) – Sixth at St. Pete, Rahal still has the goods on street courses, and Rahal Letterman Lanigan remains headed in the right direction.

9. Alex Palou (4) – He seemed a step behind Ericsson and Dixon in the race after just missing the Fast Six in qualifying, but this was a solid start for Palou.

10. Will Power (2) – An uncharacteristic mistake that crashed Colton Herta put a blemish on the type of steady weekend that helped him win the 2022 title.

Falling out (last week): Josef Newgarden (1), Colton Herta (8), Christian Lundgaard (9)