Formula E: Trulli team considers reverting to original car

The Trulli Formula E team may revert to the championship's original powertrain if it cannot get on top of its troubled new concept for the final pre-season test.

Ex-Formula 1 driver Jarno Trulli is expected to drive solo in the Monday-Tuesday test next week, with the team fielding just one Motomatica JT-01. It comes after a torrid pre-season in which it has failed to turn a lap with its new technology, while the team did not even take up its garages for this week's running.

In theory, the teams have until the end of next week, when the all-electric series will freight its cars to China for the first round in Beijing, to decide whether to run their own powertrains this season or revert to the season-one Spark SRT_01E. However, Formula E CEO Alejandro Agag told AUTOSPORT in the wake of the Trulli team's ongoing issues it would be able to transport its own cars if it wanted more time to work on the Motomaticas.

"The criteria is safety [if Trulli wants more time]," he said. "They need to race in China and Malaysia, as long as they feel they can do that [it's not a problem]."

The team, which has not disclosed the form of its motor/gearbox package, is still keen on contesting the 2015-'16 season with the Motomatica powertrain. Agag suggested Trulli should follow Team Aguri's lead in running the season-one McLaren Electronic Systems motor and five-speed Hewland gearbox again.

"It's a tough call," he added. "I can imagine how frustrated they are. But you need to be realistic and be on the grid. If you look at a team like Aguri, they are in the middle of the pack and will have reliability for sure."

Originally on Autosport.com