10/04/2014
NEWS STORY
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.