Ex-Haas F1 driver Gutierrez to join Techeetah for Formula E debut
Former Haas Formula 1 driver Esteban Gutierrez will make his Formula E debut with the Techeetah team
The Mexican will race in the electric single-seater championship for the first time at his home event in Mexico City on April 1, taking Ma Qing Hua's seat for the remainder of the season.
Ma has been stood down by the team after a run of disappointing performances since he made his debut in Paris last season - when the team was still known as Aguri - but is expected to stay on as reserve.
Gutierrez is understood to have concluded his deal with Techeetah and also visited its simulator in Monaco, where he has a residence.
It remains to be seen if he will get a chance to test a car before the Mexico City event.
Techeetah would not comment when contacted by Autosport, but is expected to officially confirm the Mexican as team-mate to Jean-Eric Vergne in the Renault-powered car shortly.
Gutierrez and his management are understood to have settled on Techeetah after other possible opportunities for the Mexican race - believed to be with Renault e.dams, Faraday Future Dragon Racing and DS Virgin Racing - were explored.
Renault and DS were closed off due to Sebastien Buemi and Jose Maria Lopez both opting to commute between Toyota's World Endurance Championship launch at Monza on March 31 and the Mexican race the following day.
Ferrari has confirmed that Lopez's team-mate Sam Bird will race at the Hermanos Rodriguez circuit on April 1 and not attend the WEC Prologue test with his AF Corse GT team.
Faraday Future Dragon Racing initially had the most expansive talks with Gutierez but a deal, which looked a formality at one stage, was not finalised.
The team still has to find a replacement for Loic Duval, who is set to miss the Paris and Brussels races due to clashes with his new Audi DTM role.
"I'd say that we are currently sitting down with Faraday and talking about a couple of guys," team owner Jay Penske told Autosport last month.
"We haven't made a decision yet. There are an interesting set of F1 guys that are taking a serious look here [at Formula E].
"Also guys like Mike Conway, who we know well, can get in and do a good job but we want to continue to build."
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