FORMULA E has held its first official test session at Donington Park since making the circuit its home. With a host of former Formula 1 drivers behind the wheel of the all electric-powered racing cars, the crowds who came to see them were given a real treat.
TO some, motor racing is a noisy, dirty sport where the impact on the environment comes second to the quest for glory.
That is how motor racing used to be.
Things are changing. In recent years, it has been cleaning up its act.
Today, it is pioneering technology that not only makes the sport greener - but can make a major contribution to cutting the environmental impact of road cars.
Formula E, the world's first all-electric racing series, aims to prove that you can put on an entertaining spectacle that is environmentally sustainable.
For some, motor racing is not motor racing without one key ingredient - the noise.
However, in the world of Formula E, silence in golden.
That's not to say that the cars do not make any noise at all - or that they are not exciting to watch.
At their first official test session yesterday(3) at Donington Park, the cars made what can only be described as an electric whirring noise - a bit like the sound of a remote controlled car.
But the lack of noise pollution is just one of the eco-friendly facets of this revolutionary racing series.
And it probably explains why major cities across the world are allowing Formula E races on their streets - rather than purpose-built racetracks like Donington.
Starting in September, the 10-race series will be held right in the heart of cities such as Beijing, Buenos Aires, Berlin and London.
Ahead of that, the 10 teams taking part will be putting their cars through their paces - at Donington, which is where they are all based.
It was towards the start of this year that Formula E announced that it had selected the circuit at which to base the teams and some of its admin staff.
New buildings were built in the paddock and the teams moved in during May.
The thinking behind being based at Donington was down to a number of factors - a track on which to test, close proximity to an airport (East Midlands Airport) that can transport the Formula E circus all over the world and an area that is home to a skilled workforce and a large number of motor racing-related businesses.
On Thursday, the Donington pit lane was full of media from all over world - such is the global curiosity surrounding Formula E.
They were also attracted by the stellar line-up of drivers that the championship has attracted - many of them with F1 experience.
Each team runs two drivers. At the time of writing, not all of the teams have confirmed their full driver line-ups yet. But those who have done so have secured the services of some impressive names.
Jarno Trulli is a veteran of more than 250 Formula One races. The Italian is set to drive in Formula E with his own team Trulli GP.
Jarno said: "I got involved in Formula E because it is a new form of motor sport and a new challenge.
"The facilities here at Donington are very good.
"The only issue is that in the championship we will be racing on street circuits and that is something difficult to recreate here.
"But it is the same for everyone and it is early days."
Germany's Nick Heidfeld is another Formula E pilot with vast experience in Formula One.
He will be driving for the Venturi Formula E Team - an outfit in which Hollywood superstar Leonardo DiCaprio is a partner.
He said: "This is the first time I've driven Donington and I like it a lot. It is fast with good corners.
"I also like the facilities. I like the fact that all the teams are together. There is a good atmosphere.
"We are learning the cars. They are very different to drive compared to an F1 car.
"But it is a great challenge. What excites me is what we are doing here could have a big impact on the future of road cars."
For F1 fans, one of the greatest rivalries in the history of the sport was between triple world champion Ayrton Senna and four-time champion Alain Prost.
In Formula E, the Prost/Senna battle looks set to be joined once again.
Alain's son Nicolas is driving for the E.Dams team, while Ayrton's nephew Bruno is driving for Mahindra Racing.
Donington Park holds some special memories for the Senna family. It was the scene of one of the late Ayrton Senna's greatest ever victories - the 1993 European Grand Prix.
Unlike Formula One at the moment, both sexes will be represented on the grid, with Britain's Katherine Legge driving for Amlin Aguri and Italy's Michela Cerruti lining up for Trulli GP.
Katherine said: "This is an exciting new series - different to anything I've ever done before.
"I've always liked Donington. I've raced here before when I was going through the junior formulas.
"I'm confident the series will be a success. 20 cars rushing through the streets of a major city should be very exciting."
But for all the big names at the track, the undoubted stars of the show are the cars themselves.
For the opening season, each team will use the same car - the French-built Spark-Renault SRT-01E.
But do not be fooled by the fact that these cars are powered solely by electricity. Scalextric cars they are not!
The single-seater car, which produces zero emissions, is capable of a top speed of 140mph.
Much of the technology within the car has been supplied by companies already involved in F1, such as Renault, McLaren and Williams.
Alejandro Agag, chief executive of Formula E Holdings series, said: "I'm absolutely delighted with the calibre of the both the teams and the drivers that will compete in Formula E.
"I'm also very grateful to Donington for all the support they have given us."
Christopher Tate, managing director of Donington Park Racing, said: "I believe we are making history here. This is the future of racing.
"I'm afraid there are no plans to hold a race at Donington.
"But I would love to see local authorities close the streets so we could bring these cars to UK cities and show them off to the public."
The good news for those who did not go along to watch the test session is that there will be plenty more opportunities to see the Formula E cars in action before the season starts.
Further official tests will take place on Friday, July 9, July 10 and August 19.
Admission is free although fans need to pre-register at the Donington Park website - www.donington-park.co.uk.
