BMW completes first Formula E Gen2 running

BMW has completed its first running with the new 'Gen2' Formula E car that will make its racing debut at the start of Season 5 upon the German manufacturer's full arrival in the series.

BMW has been working closely with current Formula E team Andretti for some time, but will upscale the relationship to become a full works team for Formula E's fifth season, set to start this November.

The new Gen2 Formula E chassis was formally unveiled last month at the Geneva Motor Show ahead of the first collective on-track test later in the month, which BMW was forced to miss.

The new BMW iFE.18 car broke cover for the first time this week at BMW's driver academy at Maisach, with current Andretti driver Tom Blomqvist completing some running.

"The BMW iFE.18 is a milestone for our company. After months of excellent collaboration between the engineers from production and racing development, we can all now see the result in action," BMW director of motorsport Jens Marquardt said.

"This Formula E project has seen the most remarkable technology transfer between production and motorsport in the history of BMW. Everyone involved has breathed life into the ‘TechLab for BMW i’ motto from the word go.

"I can hardly wait to see the car racing for the first time in the BMW i Motorsport colours when Season 5 gets going."

BMW confirmed it will be present with the new car for the next collective Formula E test, taking place in Calafat, Spain from April 17-19.