Jahan Daruwala | photo credit: special arrangement
Hyderabad is on the fast track as the city gears up to host the first Formula E race in India. As the electric car revolution gathers pace across the world, India is all set to host the first ever ABB FIA Formula E World Championship race to be held in Hyderabad on 11 February.
Ahead of the race, in conversation with Jehan Daruvala, reserve driver of Mahindra Racing Formula E Team Hindu Prasad’s IMAX. One of India’s most successful single-seat motor racers, he is currently the reserve driver for the Mahindra Racing Formula E team. The 24-year-old says that it is great to see motorsport of this format (electric cars) in India.
Jahan, who lives in London, is also happy that he will be able to meet his parents, who have come to Hyderabad from Mumbai to meet him. He shared, “I was in Hyderabad a decade back to drive the go kart area at RGIA airport. After that I did not go to Hyderabad.
Ever since Jehan started karting at the age of nine, he has never stopped. “I have always been fascinated by fast cars and racing,” recalls Jahan. As a child, I used to sit with my family and watch races on TV, without thinking that someday I would do the same. Once, while on a business trip from Mumbai, my father came across a newspaper article on go kart training by Rayomand Banaji, a veteran motorsports champion.
Rayomand Banerjee is an eight-time Formula One go-karting champion and the owner of Rayo Racing. Seeing a newspaper advertisement, Jahan’s father took him to the track and just like that, Jahan found himself uncovering his love for speed with skill. “We went to the karting arena, I drove and the rest is history. I just turned nine years old that year,” says Jehan. Noticing his style and dedication, Reymond contacted Jehan’s father to find out whether Jehan would be interested in motor racing.” Without thinking twice, my father replied yes and I started training with Reymond.”
In the same year 2010, Jehan won the Indian National Karting Championship and became one of the three winners of Sahara Force India’s “One in a Billion Hunt” organized by the Sahara Force India Formula 1 team. Jehan is also the first Indian to win a Grand Prix at the New Zealand Grand Prix in 2017, then progressed to the FIA Formula 2 Championship in 2020. In 2020, Jehan also became the first Indian to win a Formula 2 race in a sprint race. in Bahrain.
When Jehan came to know about the Formula E race in India through a tweet, he was elated at the future prospects for young aspiring racers. “Since the Formula E races take place within the city, it creates a great opportunity as all our cities have great infrastructure. The track is smaller, but the speeds are almost the same. All the drivers are eager to drive here,” he says. Are.
Jehan says he always looked up to his role model, Spanish driver Fernando Alonso. “He’s 41, he’s still the best. That’s his talent,” he whispers.
When it comes to food and fitness, the youth miss Indian food a lot and they cannot cook much Indian food. “I’m on an eating plan now, so my meals are tailored to what my body needs and then my trainers make sure I’m in the right shape to be in the racing circuit,” he said.
Does he get frustrated when he is stuck in traffic in India? “Not really, I am a patient person and I can switch from track to everyday roads pretty fast,” laughs Jahan. So yes, even though getting stuck in traffic is not fun, I do not lose my temper. Patience and responsible driving is a must for all.
What does he enjoy when he is not on the track, practicing or training? Jahan quickly replied: “Cricket. I love watching cricket on TV. When I am in London, I can watch Test matches five days a week and still want to watch more.