10:34 - The light is beginning to fade in Beijing, but Sebastien Buemi won't care; he's the winner of the first race of Season Two. Thanks to everybody who followed along, make sure to join us for the next round in Putrajaya on November 7th.

10:26 - Here's the incident between da Costa and Villeneuve again. Jacques was able to limp to the finish in 14th, while the Portugese was forced to retire with broken front suspension.

WATCH @afelixdacosta & @27villeneuve come to blows at Turn 3 #BeijingePrix https://t.co/gnFGi0WMlx
— FIAFormulaE (@FIAformulaE) October 24, 2015

10:20 - So what did we make of that? It's a tale of conflicting emotions in the e.dams camp, with Buemi rarely troubled out front, while Prost will be ruing the rear-wing failure which forced his retirement. We enjoyed some frantic squabbling in the mid-pack with the DS Virgin boys in the mix, a few surprise top-ten finishers, and a very close near miss for the Dragon cars that will have added a few grey hairs to Jay Penske's head!

10:14 - This is an undeniably brilliant podium setup.

Greatest podium ceremony ever. Well done, @FIAformulaE #eVillage pic.twitter.com/Ukg7UfBQgP
— ABT Formula E Team (@abt_formula_e) October 24, 2015

10:12 - So,Buemi's final winning margin was a comfortable 11 seconds - a real statement of intent from the e.dams driver. Di Grassi and Heidfeld round out the podium.

Lap 26 - Duval gives it his best and temporarily gets alongside, but can't make the move stick and Heidfeld keeps his third place, finally putting his dreadful run of luck to an end.

Lap 25 - Buemi looks to have this one in the bag, but the battle for third is hotting up - will we have another dramatic finish?

Lap 24 - Jerome d'Ambrosio comes perilously close to making contact with his team-mate, but manages to avoid him. Heidfeld still holding on!

Lap 23 - Prost comes in, relinquishing third to Heidfeld. Top rookie Berthon is now up to an excellent seventh for Aguri.

Lap 22 - Duval has now closed onto the back of Heidfeld in the battle for fourth, which could yet become third if Prost is forced to pit.

Unfortunately, that's the end of Nico's race. But Buemi still leads by a healthy margin #BeijingePrix
— RENAULT e.dams (@RENAULTedams) October 24, 2015

Lap 21 - Prost is still hanging onto di Grassi despite his aero-dynamically challenged car, but has been shown the Black and Orange (mechanical) flag.

Lap 20 - Problems for Prost, his rear-wing has collapsed!

Lap 19 - All is running to plan at the moment for Sebastien Buemi, who has a seven second lead.

Lap 15 - So the race is neutralised. And amidst this, Loic Duval has emerged from the pits in an excellent fifth place. Dragon had a habit of showing extremely well in the races last season; seems they're at it again.

Lap 14 - Buemi retains a healthy lead, but there's been some action behind him. Di Grassi is the big winner, leapfrogging both Heidfeld and Prost to take second spot. Behind him, Prost beat Heidfeld out, but a lockup at turn two costs him the position so it's now Buemi from di Grassi, Heidfeld and Prost. Got that? Good.

And no sooner than we've typed that, we've got another full-course yellow. Villeneuve is in the wall, seemingly as a result of contact from Antonio Felix da Costa in the Aguri car. JV's able to reverse out of it but da Costa's day is done. The Portuguese driver gives Villeneuve a little wave of apology, suggesting it was his fault.

Half way. #BeijingePrix pic.twitter.com/1cjl1t6nnm
— Amlin Andretti FE (@AmlinAndrettiFE) October 24, 2015

Lap 13 - Buemi is in and, what feels like a lifetime later, so too are chasing pack of Heidfeld, Di Grassi and Prost. The leader should be fine, but we could see a mix up of the order among the podium contenders.

Lap 12 - Remember what we said about Buemi not walking away with this? We may need to revise that one, with the Swiss driver now a whopping 14 seconds clear at the head of the field. That is ominous.

Lap 10 - Right, let normal service resume. Energy-wise most cars are now down into single figures, but there are a few exceptions: Loic Duval has a mighty 17% left in his Dragon machine, while China Racing pair Oliver Turvey and Nelson Piquet have also got plenty of juice left. Remember how good Piquet was at energy management last season? Seems that they've maintained that, if not their race-winning pace.

[

Beijing](https://twitter.com/hashtag/Beijing?src=hash) lap 11/26 good move for #StéphaneSarrazin now 7 as he overtook Senna #JacquesVilleneuve P14

— Venturi FormulaETeam (@VenturiGP) October 24, 2015

Nick is pushing hard and maintaining P2. Bruno currently P7 #M2Electro #FormulaE #BeijingePrix
— MahindraRacing (@MahindraRacing) October 24, 2015

Déjà vu anyone…? #BeijingePrix pic.twitter.com/YcSCxPq1cC
— RENAULT e.dams (@RENAULTedams) October 24, 2015

Time for a few tweets…

Lap 4 - After a Thunderbirds-esque countdown from the race director we're underway again.

Lap 3 - Any suggestion that this would be a walk in the park for Buemi has been dismissed. He's only a second clear of second-placed Heidfeld, who's going great guns on his first outing for the Mahindra squad.

And now Simona de Silvestro is in the wall! It looks like the Andretti driver is unhurt, but we've got our first full course yellow of the weekend.

#BeijingePrix early exit for @simdesilvestro #28 @AmlinAndrettiFE car. We have a Full Yellow Caution on track now. @RFrijns runs P13
— Andretti Autosport (@FollowAndretti) October 24, 2015

Lap 2 - Prost has gone wide at turn 3 on the second lap and Lucas di Grassi needs doesn't need asking twice - he's taken third place from the Frenchman. So it's Buemi from Heidfeld and di Grassi - three different manufacturers in the top three.

Lap 1 - Great start from Buemi to hold his lead into turn one, but a lot of wheelspin for Prost allows Nick Heidfeld a sniff at second. Not a man to pass up a sniff, Quick Nick is through and into P2. Here's how it happened:

WATCH @Sebastien_buemi retain the lead at the start in Beijing #BeijingePrix https://t.co/Cj9PJvZGBO
— FIAFormulaE (@FIAformulaE) October 24, 2015

8.59 - We're very close to getting underway in Beijing to kick of season two of FIA Formula E. Cars on the grid,

8:56 - Find out what our polesitter Sebastien Buemi had to say just before getting into his car:

WATCH pole-sitter @Sebastien_buemi talking to @Nickishields on the grid #BeijingePrix https://t.co/vY4v7Bu7bT
— FIAFormulaE (@FIAformulaE) October 24, 2015

8:50 - We have absolutely no idea who will come out on top today, but all indications point to it being one of this bunch…

8:45 - The countdown to the green has begun…

Arrived on the grid. Countdown is running … pic.twitter.com/9tvixDm1lV
— ABT Formula E Team (@abt_formula_e) October 24, 2015

8:40 - The Beijing fans are enjoying the eVillage display:

8:38 - Formula E was a resounding success in its first season, but the challenge for the world's first fully-electric racing series is only beginning. We asked commentator Jack Nicholls how the series can combat the second season syndrome.

8:35 - If you get the chance to explore Beijing, then do so!

Mandatory selfie by the largest #Birdsnest. Ready for first @fiaformulae race of the season? #beijing https://t.co/x3HHhD1KWU
— Oriol Servia (@OriolServia) October 24, 2015

8:30 - Beijing track guide

• Located on public roads around the Bird's Nest Olympic Stadium, the venue for the 2008 Games, the 3.4 kilometre, 17-turn Beijing circuit is one of the longest on the calendar and will immediately put the new powertrains to the test.
• A multitude of long straights and 90 degree corners should see plenty of overtaking opportunities – as an added bonus, the unpopular chicane after turn two has been removed this year.
• Only ten drivers who competed in the Beijing ePrix are back for Season Two, including Nick Heidfeld and Nico Prost, who will be looking to avoid a repeat of their dramatic final corner accident.

8:25 - e.dams on top in qualifying

• Sebastien Buemi will start the Beijing ePrix from pole position for the Renault e.dams team after pipping last year's poleman Nico Prost in the SuperPole by 0.284. For the Swiss, who suffered the disappointment of missing out on the title in Season One by a single point, it was the perfect riposte.
• Prost will start alongside his team-mate on the front row, ahead of Nick Heidfeld's Mahindra and last year's winner Lucas di Grassi. In his first race for the DS Virgin team, Jean-Eric Vergne also advanced to the Superpole, but failed to set a competitive time after locking up and having to use the turn one escape road.
• Reigning champion Nelson Piquet Jr. didn't get much mileage in Free Practice and it showed in qualifying, the Brazilian enduring a fraught session that will see him start from the rear of the field.

8:20 - What's all the fuss about Fanboost?

• It's not too late to make your voice heard! Fanboost is back for Season Two, and this time votes can be cast until 6 minutes into the race. As before, the three drivers with the most social media votes are able to use Fanboost, which takes the form of a 100kj energy boost in their second car. This can be used only once, within a power window of 180kW and 200kW.
• Voting is simple; just use #Fanboost plus a hashtag followed by the full name of the driver you wish to vote for – for example #Fanboost #SimonadeSilvestro – or download the FIA Formula E app.
• You can check the current leaderboard here.

8:12 - What's new for Season Two?

• Seven manufacturers have built their own powertrains, with Dragon the only customer team running Venturi units. Each manufacturer has chosen a different philosophy – two motors versus one motor, single gear versus five gears – but who has got it right? Two teams – Andretti Autosport and Team Aguri – have chosen to remain with the McLaren units from Season One in the hope of capitalising on early-season unreliability.
• Fanboost voting is now permitted until 6 minutes into the race. The 100kj energy boost can be used only once in the second half of the race following the car swap, between a power window of 180kW-200kW.
• Increased power in race trim from 150kW to 170kW places further emphasis on finding the sweet-spot between ultimate performance and efficiency. Qualifying remains at 200kW.
• New Superpole qualifying format, with four groups of five at just six minutes long, leaving time for only one full-power flying lap. The fastest five drivers compete one at a time for pole.
• Three rookie drivers join the series; Robin Frijns at Andretti Autosport, Nathaniel Berthon at Team Aguri and 1997 Formula One World Champion Jacques Villeneuve at Venturi.

8:05 - The first race of the year will have only 18 starters, after Trulli were forced to withdraw with key components being held in customs.

NEWS! Trulli to miss Beijing ePrix https://t.co/Rr1RvaY8Gk pic.twitter.com/ebkXS5sqD9
— FIAFormulaE (@FIAformulaE) October 23, 2015

8:00 - Good morning and welcome to VICE Sports' e-Newsroom for live coverage of the Beijing ePrix, the first round of the 2015/2016 FIA Formula E championship. Stay tuned as we build up to the race at 9am BST.