Aguri Formula E team to secure customer powertain deal for '16/17

The Anglo-Japanese squad is running in Spark SRT_01E configuration for the 2015/16 season, with Antonio Felix da Costa picking up two sixth-place finishes in the first three races.

Team principal Mark Preston told Autosport he did not believe that level of competitiveness would be possible in season three because of the incremental gains being made under the series' open powertrain regulations.

Team Aguri has until the end of March to decide which it will take, with the Renault Z.E.15 in the e.dams-run cars currently the series' benchmark, but is likely to make the decision sooner.

"We'll just take the fastest one," said Preston. "We're in discussions. Renault's certainly seems the fastest.

"We probably have to do something after Buenos Aires [on February 6]."

In Formula E any manufacturer building its own powertrain must be prepared to sell it to a rival team for a maximum €120,000, or lease it for €72,000 a season.

Any additional engineering support, such as integrating that powertrain into the car, would be dependent on the commercial agreement between the team and the manufacturer.

Preston said the costs involved in developing a powertrain, which comprises the motor, gearbox, inverter and cooling system, were prohibitive for his team.

That is why it did not join Dragon Racing, which is a Venturi customer in season two, in applying to be a manufacturer for season three.

"We weren't ready, but if an OEM came along we would talk about it," he added.

Team Aguri underwent a restructuring of its engineering team prior to last week's Punta del Este race.

Gerry Hughes left to take up a chief engineer position at the rival NEXTEV TCR team, while Aguri has drafted in "a couple of engineers and new mechanics", according to Preston. Da Costa also has a new race engineer.

"We're growing and changing and moving people around," said Preston.

"It's part of growing up as a team and getting ready for next season."