Heidfeld tops open-wheel eRecord time with Mahindra's 2019/20 season powertrain at Goodwood

Heidfeld, better known as the 'King of the Hill' or 'Quick Nick,' after setting the long-standing record at the famed motoring celebration in 1999, ran the new powertrain for the first time on the 1.87km (1.16 mile) course with a time of 46.45sec. 

Heidfeld and the new Gen2 powertrain managed to shave more than two seconds off his previous eRecord time of 48.59sec during the Friday timed session, which falls short of the requirements needed to set a new overall open-wheel eRecord. With that, the team still retains its 2017 title while Heidfeld's new achievement adds to the German driver's impressive record at the world-famous Goodwood Festival of Speed, with his most notable hill sprint time standing for 20 years until it was topped by Romain Dumas in the all-electric VW ID R at the weekend. 

"I have been coming to the Goodwood Festival of Speed for as long as I can remember – at least 20 years as that’s the anniversary of my first hillclimb record, which is just crazy!" said the former Mahindra driver. 

"It is great to see more support every year for electric mobility and the crowds never disappoint."

After racing for the Indian team until the fifth season of the ABB FIA Formula E Championship, when he took up the position of Official Test and Reserve Driver, Heidfeld has involved himself with the development of the Mahindra-linked Automobili Pininfarina Batista electric hypercar.  

The run comes ahead of the Championship finale in New York City on July 13 and 14, when Mahindra Racing drivers Jerome d'Ambrosio and Pascal Wehrlein will battle for a final podium finish in the 2018/19 season. Currently placed fifth in the standings, the team will be looking to make it into the top three to round off its fifth campaign in the all-electric series.