Donington Park will become the global base of electric motor racing championship, Formula E, when it opens as the series’ headquarters and training facility. The venue was selected above multiple European locations, because the “new facilities at Donington Park provide the perfect central location for operating the FIA Formula E Championship”, according to Formula E CEO, Alexander Agag.
The facilities will comply with sustainability regulations, so teams will be able to take advantage of high environmental standards, effective energy management systems, and a reduction in carbon emissions. This reflects Formula E’s ethos, and Donington Park will be at the heart of the sustainable motor industry, promoting and advancing the sport as well as developing world-leading technology for energy-efficient vehicles.
The Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership (LLEP) has been key to the success of securing Donington Park as the base, after providing £3.6million of the £5.7million needed for the scheme. The loan was taken from the Government’s Growing Places Fund, which encourages investment in local business. Christopher Tate, the Managing Director at Donington Park, said: “To bring in 165 jobs and the global-leading technology to Donington Park is, for us, a complete game-changer”.
The series will involve competitions around 10 cities worldwide, and it kicks off in Beijing this September. There are ten teams involved in the event, each with two riders who race in the single-seat cars at speeds of over 225km/h. Councillor Richard Blunt, Leader of the North West Leicestershire District Council, has faith that the sport will be resoundingly popular, saying: “It is a more affordable way of getting to see formula racing and all the technology that will be in cars of the future”.
The site will be 44,000ft², and will contain offices, workspaces and stores for Formula E’s 150-strong workforce, as well as the race course itself and state-of-the-art training facilities.
Work will be completed by the end of April, and teams are expected to move in throughout May, and begin test races in June.
