Buemi in front again in Formula E test with unofficial lap record

The Swiss set a best lap of 1m31.050s, three tenths up on his 2014 test best, aboard his e.dams RENAULT Z.E.15 to top the times in the first of three two-day tests at the British track ahead of the 2015/16 season.

That time, set in the three-hour afternoon session, put him nearly half a second up on Sam Bird in the best of the DS Virgin Racing entries, with a time of 1m31.469s.

Buemi's best from the morning session, a 1m31.227s, would also have been good enough for him to end the two days of testing at the top of the times.

"It was a bit of a shitty lap, because I had old tyres - we'd used the new set this morning," Buemi, who also topped Monday's running, said.

"But we're quite happy with the test, given this is only the start for our new car and motor."

Daniel Abt was a further tenth back in his Abt car on 1m31.537s, while Nick Heidfeld was four thousandths behind in his Mahindra entry with a 1m31.541s.

The top nine drivers were all within a second, and all used the 200kW power level allowed in qualifying, rather than the 170kW race maximum.

This was the first test for the new powertrains allowed under the season-two rule book for Formula E.

The eight teams registered as manufacturers have been allowed to develop their own electric motors, current inverters, gearboxes and rear-suspension components.

Buemi predicted the developments would result in the Formula E cars finding another second around the full 2.489-mile Donington circuit over the course of the August testing prior to the cars leaving for the Beijing season opener in October.

The Chinese Nextev squad, which was second fastest with Nelson Piquet Jr on Monday, did not run after experiencing gearbox problems at the end of day one.

That precluded Oliver Turvey, who made his debut with the team in last season's Battersea finale, from taking part in the test.

The Trulli squad was only present on day one of the test, its car failing to leave the pitlane, while the Andretti squad, represented by Simona de Silvestro, failed to record a flying lap with what were described as software glitches.

DID YOU KNOW...

... Buemi has been quickest in six of the seven Formula E test days held at Donington Park? He was fastest on four of the five test days last year and topped the times on both days this week.

TUESDAY TEST TIMES:

1. Sebastien Buemi e.Dams 1m31.050s 2. Sam Bird DS Virgin Racing 1m31.469s 3. Daniel Abt Abt 1m31.537s 4. Nick Heidfeld Mahindra Racing 1m31.541s 5. Nicolas Prost e.Dams 1m31.592s 6. Bruno Senna Mahindra Racing 1m31.869s 7. Loic Duval Dragon Racing 1m31.915s 8. Stephane Sarrazin Venturi 1m32.001s 9. Jean-Eric Vergne DS Virgin Racing 1m32.003s 10. Tom Dillmann Team Aguri 1m32.369s 11. Jerome d'Ambrosio Dragon Racing 1m34.955s 12. Jacques Villeneuve Venturi 1m36.915s 13. Nelson Piquet Jr China Racing no time set 14. Jarno Trulli Trulli no time set 15. Simona de Silvestro Andretti no time set 16. Oliver Turvey China Racing no time set