Formula E testing Donnington

[Tiddler]

After a heads up another forum I could not resist attending this event. The weather was glorious, sun burnt nose says it all! The track has several "fence free" spots too so good choices for taking pictures. I was chatting to a guy called Paul Allen who is a regular there and he soon pointed me in the right direction so thanks Paul if ever you stumble across this.

The cars are fantastic and obviously has had huge investments placed into them. The atmosphere ws great and circuit staff were very welcoming. It was even open pits at lunchtime with all drivers with their cars. The strangest thing was the noise, it was hard to comprehend the sound in relation to the speed the cars are travelling, most noise was tyre noise and wind noise. Impossible to describe, you'd have to see and hear it! Almost like super size RC cars. It doesn't detract though.

There was some big name drivers there too! Bruno Senna, Nicolas Prost, Seb Buemi, and Jaime Alguersuari.

It's the first motorsport photography I've done for about 3 years so i was a little rusty.

The Virgin Racing cars are chrome, very difficult to photograph! Jaime Alguersuari

09.07.2014 Formula E Test Day Virgin Racing by Tim J Preston, on Flickr


09.07.2014 Formula E Test Day Virgin Racing Sam Bird by Tim J Preston, on Flickr

Venturi Racing

09.07.2014 Formula E Test Day Venturi Racing by Tim J Preston, on Flickr

Bruno Senna Mahindra Racing

09.07.2014 Formula E Test Day Mahindra Racing 2 by Tim J Preston, on Flickr

Edam Racings Buemi locks up into Melbourne

09.07.2014 Formula E Test Day E Dams Racing Buemi by Tim J Preston, on Flickr

Amlin Racings Da Costa

09.07.2014 Formula E Test Day Amlin Racing Da Costa by Tim J Preston, on Flickr

ABT Racings Daniel

09.07.2014 Formula E Test Day ABT Racing Daniel 2 by Tim J Preston, on Flickr

and ABT's Di Grassi

09.07.2014 Formula E Test Day ABT Racing 2 by Tim J Preston, on Flickr

Couldn't resist the irony in this one!

09.07.2014 Formula E Test Day Virgin Racing Do Not Touch by Tim J Preston, on Flickr

Bruno Senna

09.07.2014 Formula E Test Day Mahindra Racing Driver Senna by Tim J Preston, on Flickr

A fantastic day, would highly recommend!

All taken with E3 and Sigma 50-500.

Edited by Tiddler on Thursday 10th July 11:32

[Tiddler]

Even for just a test day there was a decent number of spectators. Lucas Di Grassi in the ABT racing car exiting Melbourne.

[url=https://flic.kr/p/oeqTs3]

09.07.2014 Formula E Test Day ABT Racing Di Grassi 3[/url] by Tim J Preston, on Flickr

The Amlin and Dams racing cars were very photogenic and my favourite. This is Katherine Legge in the Amlin car.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/ogbnG2]

09.07.2014 Formula E Test Day Amlin Racing K Legge[/url] by Tim J Preston, on Flickr

and out of it being interviewed on the pit wall
[url=https://flic.kr/p/nYYxdV]

09.07.2014 Formula E Test Day Amlin Racing Driver K Legge[/url] by Tim J Preston, on Flickr

This is Alain Prosts son Nicolas Prost in his Dams Racing car
[url=https://flic.kr/p/oeqSqy]

09.07.2014 Formula E Test Day E Dams Racing N Prost[/url] by Tim J Preston, on Flickr

This is him in his garage. It was quite emotional to hear the names Senna and Prost being used together in the commentary and competing at the front with each other for the fastest times.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/ogq88q]

09.07.2014 Formula E Test Day E Dams Racing Driver N Prost[/url] by Tim J Preston, on Flickr

Sarrazin riding the kerbs through the Esses in his Venturi car (going to have to reprocess this one not entirely happy with it)
[url=https://flic.kr/p/ogsLTV]

09.07.2014 Formula E Test Day Venturi Racing Sarrazin 2[/url] by Tim J Preston, on Flickr

Michela Cerruti another of the female drivers driving for Jarno Trulli had an interesting helmet
[url=https://flic.kr/p/nYYcuY]

09.07.2014 Formula E Test Day Trulli Racing M Cerruti[/url] by Tim J Preston, on Flickr

and here is her team mate owner/manager Jarno
[url=https://flic.kr/p/nYYwfx]

09.07.2014 Formula E Test Day Trulli Racing Jarno Trulli[/url] by Tim J Preston, on Flickr

Edited by Tiddler on Thursday 10th July 11:34

[AnotherClarkey]

Thanks for the great photos - the cars are really quite attractive.

I am looking forward to this series and will be in London for the event there. I might be able to wangle trips to Monaco and Berlin too since the format allows it to be so easily incorporated in a long weekend city break. Much easier than trying to sell the other half on the idea of standing around at a circuit in the middle of nowhere for a day or two.

[mids]

Excellent set of photos. Nicely done !

[RogerVulva]

Nice pics cheers

[MyVTECGoesBwaaah]

Nice pics.

Agree with above, cars look very good.

[Fake7]

Anyone going for the final testing day tomorrow?

I hope to get there about lunchtime for the afternoon session.

Also, great pics above. I've never been to Donington Park before, where is the best place to camp out for photos?

Edited by Fake7 on Monday 18th August 18:16

[MikeO996]

You'll be closest to the cars through Melbourne hairpin, and out of the chicane onto the pit straight (from the inside of the track). Into Redgate is good, and with a big lens up through Cascades and into Old Hairpin should be good. Lots of viewing options inside and outside track, well worth getting some exercise.

[Magic919]

Donington. That is all.

[jurbie]

A fairly good guide here.

http://formulaediary.com/2014/08/15/photography-ti...

[Fake7]

Thanks for the info, hopefully the weather will hold up (assume they won't run in the rain?)

[Fake7]

Magic919 said:

Donington. That is all.

What?

[Cyder]

Am I the only one that thinks they look crap then?

I hate the Indycar style bits in front and behind the wheels. Without those I think it would look OK.

[MikeyC]

Preview on ITV4 today (6th) @ 18:00

'A preview of the 2014/15 season, which gets under way in Beijing this month and ends in Battersea Park next year after 10 rounds. This is the world's first fully-electric racing series, with team backers including Hollywood actor Leonardo Di Caprio and entrepreneur Richard Branson. Presented by Jennie Gow.'

[Baron Greenback]

Watching it now, I presume they are a one make series so all down to the driver! I'll watch I'm up for any motorsport! As they say Road race and not much run off should be fun hope space for overtaking.

[F1GTRUeno]

Cyder said:

Am I the only one that thinks they look crap then?

I hate the Indycar style bits in front and behind the wheels. Without those I think it would look OK.

No, not the only one.

They look ridiculous.

[Adrian W]

Just watching the TV review, not much different to F1, you have to have a huge bank balance and be in the club to be involved, are the F1 companies. shareholders? What is a comparable lap time on a known circuit with an engined car?


They will be having DJ's so down with the kids

Edited by Adrian W on Sunday 7th September 10:23

[Mr Gear]

The DJs and fan boost ideas leave me feeling sceptical (i hope I'm wrong), but the actual cars and racing have the potential to be very good.

The cars are identical this year, but I read previously that teams will be able to develop the cars in the future.

Nice pics in the original post BTW.

[Mr Whippy]

This should be an exciting series to watch.

I'm not sure on the exact car specs right now as they seem to be changing all the time, but I don't think they're gonna be scorching fast. I'm guessing at ~ 100-110mph max speed on most circuits... assuming current known specs.
Are they something near 200bhp and ~ 250bhp/tonne with maybe 4 gears, with another 40bhp on boost now?! With boost running at 5 seconds long.

I'm not sure why they couldn't just let them run boost all the time, but have the heat moderated on a driver by driver basis. Ie, if they overheat the car then they'll have to slow down later. Limiting power and adding boosts, and fan boosts, feels a bit weird to me.


The tracks are quite exciting too. These first two look pretty damn nice for the surroundings and architecture!

Dave

[mattikake]

What an ace driver line-up! I'm going to be watching this if only for that. Winter racing, street circuits? Bring it! Another racing series to get into. Lets hope it doesn't turn into another GP Masters or A1...