Buemi fastest in pre-season testing, Senna sixth for Mahindra

DONINGTON (ENGLAND): Sebastien Buemi of Renault e.dams set the fastest time on the opening day of the Formula E pre-season testing here at Donington Park.

Initial bragging rights went to Buemi who set the pace during a day that was interrupted by a brief rain shower in the mid-afternoon. The quickest time of 1:32.092s, compares to Buemi's best time of 1:31.083s, set during the penultimate day of pre-season testing last year.

Nick Heidfeld, who has replaced Karun Chandhok at Mahindra Racing, was seventh fastest for the sole Indian team on the grid with a 1:35.700s. His new teammate Bruno Senna was a tad faster to be sixth, clocking 1:35.653s.

This season eight new manufacturers have produced powertrains, however, neither Andretti - in its new Amlin livery, nor Trulli completed a lap, although both teams expect to run tomorrow.

It was also the first time new Venturi signing Jacques Villeneuve had driven a Formula E car in public. The 1997 Formula 1 world champion ended up in 14th place with a best time of 1:38.176s.

Frenchman Tom Dillmann made his Formula E test debut for Team Aguri, completing a few exploratory laps in the wet ahead of a full run tomorrow. There were familiar faces in unfamiliar colours as Jean-Eric Vergne made his public test debut for DS Virgin Racing.

Pre-season testing (Day 1) - Results:

1. Sebastien Buemi, Renault e.dams, 1:32.095s

2. Lucas di Grassi, ABT Schaeffler Audi Sport, 1:32.158s

3. Nicolas Prost, Renault e.dams, 1:32.286s

4. Sam Bird, DS Virgin Racing, 1:32.523s

5. Salvador Duran, Team Aguri, 1:32.549s

6. Bruno Senna, Mahindra Racing, 1:35.653s

7. Nick Heidfeld, Mahindra Racing, 1:35.700s

8. Jerome D'Ambrosio, Dragon Racing, 1:36.324s

9. Tom Dillmann, Team Aguri, 1:36.329s

10. Stephane Sarrazin, Venturi, 1:36.361s

11. Jean-Eric Vergne, DS Virgin Racing, 1:36.704s

12. Loic Duval, Dragon Racing, 1:37.987s

13. Nelson Piquet Jr, NEXTEV TCR, 1:38.052s

14. Jacques Villeneuve, Venturi, 1:38.176s

15. Jarno Trulli, Trulli, no time set

16. Simona de Silvestro, Andretti, no time set.