The FIA Formula E Championship has confirmed that all of its official pre-season tests will be held at Donington Park with free admission to fans.

Beginning on July 3, the 10 Formula E teams will be given five full test days with every one open to the public free of charge, allowing fans who pre-register via the Donington Park website unprecedented access to see and hear the 200kw (270bhp) Spark-Renault SRT_01E single-seaters in action.

The remaining tests at the Leicestershire circuit will take place on July 4, 9 and 10 with the final session on August 19 - three weeks before the season opener in Beijing on September 13. Teams will also have two in-season and two post-season test days with private testing strictly prohibited.

In addition to hosting all test days, Donington Park will also shortly become the new home for Formula E and its teams as construction work on its bespoke 44,000 ft2 premises nears completion. The state-of-the-art headquarters - catering for more than 150 staff, engineers and team personnel - are due to open in early May with the first car deliveries arriving in mid-May.

"Given all 10 Formula E teams will shortly be based at Donington Park, using the circuit for all official pre-season tests was the natural choice," said Alejandro Agag, CEO of Formula E. "Donington Park has excellent facilities and with the teams located just a stone's throw from the circuit it means we save on both costs and logistic emissions. It will be fascinating to see all cars running together for the first time - another significant milestone for the championship - and we hope by opening up all test days to the public, fans will be able to share this with us."

"Alejandro Agag's vision is about to become an on-track reality," added Christopher Tate, Managing Director of Donington Park Racing Ltd, "as the FIA Formula E race teams from around the world prepare to move into the hi-tech centre we have built for them here, and then to drive out onto this famous circuit. We are privileged to be able to offer Formula E a suitable combination of fabled motorsport history, an excellent test track, and a global centre of excellence for the new technology. And now the general public will be able to watch it all, from the stands and from trackside. We really can't wait for that first July test day."

FIA Formula E Championship - Official pre-season test days:

July 3 & 4 2014 Donington Park
July 9 & 10 2014 Donington Park
August 19 2014 Donington Park

Spectators will need to pre-register their attendance in order to gain access to testing, although no fee will be charged. Further details on how members of the public can attend Formula E test days will be available via the Formula E and Donington Park websites shortly.

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by Paul C, 17/04/2014 19:29

"Break out the grounds keeper's fleet of golf carts for a support event!"

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2. Posted by The stogie, 11/04/2014 1:05

"Memo to the FIA - Let's not draw this scenario out any further. Drop F1 and switch to F E!!! You are trying to show that F1 is ecologically sensitive so why not do it NOW!! You have almost destroyed the decades of good will built up in F1 with your incredibly stupid rules changes so why prolong the agony. You clearly will not be satisfied until the sport is ruined completely. Sad!"

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3. Posted by ACanuck, 10/04/2014 21:34

"We now have F1 cars with engines the size of my Yaris and actually sound worse than it does; and B) Formula E cars that at first blush seem to be even more horrible than F1 cars. I can't help the feeling that the future direction of politically-correct motor sport seems to be spinning itself into ever-decreasing spirals of relevance. If racing fans really wanted to see green cars go fast, they could sit by the side of the highway at Friday rush hour. Free admission, and there is passing."

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4. Posted by irishf1fans, 10/04/2014 21:11

"Could be worth a look at least no one will be surprised by the sound and you'd never know what tech could come out of this series to our road cars or even into f1 (god forbid) 😅"

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5. Posted by GoodPublicity, 10/04/2014 16:02

"It's irrelevant for an F1 website, not to mention a sham category that will fail dismally to attract public support.

Mark my words."

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6. Posted by Editor, 10/04/2014 15:38 (moderated by an Adminstrator, 10/04/2014 15:41)

"@ GoodPublicity (ironic really considering your post).

Ignoring the fact that you appear to feel you speak for the "vast majority of fans", we have posted nine (count ‘em... 9) news articles relating to Formula E this year.

Hardly a lot is it…?

sigh"

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7. Posted by vins0n, 10/04/2014 15:27 (moderated by an Adminstrator, 10/04/2014 15:41)

"GoodPublicity - Because it is of interest. I'm not sure how big your survey was to quote "the vast majority" but with the right support this could become a major openwheeler formula. Who Knows? I may well go to the testing so maybe I'll see you there - or not."

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8. Posted by GoodPublicity, 10/04/2014 14:35

"Why is Pitpass publishing so much 'news' about a yet-to-race minor openwheeler formula with no appeal to the vast majority of fans?"

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Formula E tests open to public for free

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