Share this article on LinkedIn Email

Formula E will run a Friday practice session for the first time with a 30-minute collective test ahead of the season opener in China.

The half-hour session will take place at 4pm local time, shortly after the championship's traditional three-lap shakedown behind the safety car.

The teams requested the session to get extra time to prepare the cars after a technological overhaul in the off-season.

The shakedown is not only for the teams' benefit, and is also used to test event systems such as live timing.

Formula E events are built around one day of action, with two practice sessions, qualifying and the race all taking place on Saturday (with the exception of the London double-header that made up the inaugural season finale).

It is understood the championship will revert to this format for the Malaysian ePrix in two weeks' time and all events thereafter.