Formula E continued on its path to Beijing as the 10 teams took delivery of the first year car, the Spark-Renault SRT_01E.
The delivery location was Donington Park headquarters. The projects of delivery and the opening of the headquarters were deliberately linked so that the new cars would be delivered to the new 44,000ft² premise.
The new HQ possesses offices, stores, workshops and over 150 Formula E staff so the teams can settle into their home for at least the first three years.
While there were over 250 guests at the opening, including newly announced drivers Sam Bird and Jaime Alguersuari, the facilities will become more accessible on July 3rd.
On the 3rd, the teams open the doors to the public as the teams begin pre-season testing. By then, the teams will also have received another batch of fully electric cars.
Not long after the public testing days, the teams will receive all of their fours cars in preparation for the season opener in Beijing in September.
Back in the present, and Alejandro Agag , CEO of Formula E, at the grand opening said:
“Today marks a very significant milestone in the genesis of the FIA Formula E Championship. In September 2013 we launched this incredible fully-electric 150mph car and after more than 3,000km of rigorous testing we’re delighted to be now handing them over to our 10 teams,” said the CEO.
“My thanks go to Frédéric Vasseur and his team at Spark Racing Technology for making this happen and all our car partners – McLaren, Williams, Dallara, Renault and Michelin – involved in its development.
“Today we also officially welcome our teams into their new bespoke facilities, built to the latest environmental and sustainable construction standards. The Donington Park team, led by Kevin Wheatcroft and Christopher Tate, together with the North West Leicestershire Council, the Leicestershire Local Enterprise Partnership and the Growing Places Fund should all be immensely proud of what they have achieved in such a short space of time.
“We’re delighted with our new operational headquarters and very pleased to be a part of burgeoning British motorsport industry.”
With the fruits of a 13 week construction, the teams will now settle at Donington before turning their focus to Beijing.