Tomorrow’s shakedown session will answer questions over the extent of Nick Heidfeld’s recovery, as possible replacement Adam Carroll is flown into to Buenos Aires for standby duties with Mahindra Racing.

Heidfeld missed the Punta del Este round to undergo surgery on his hand, in a bid to remedy a recurring injury which had flared up at the previous race in Putrajaya. Formula Renault 3.5 champion Oliver Rowland stepped into the seat for the first round of Formula E’s South American leg but struggled to make an impression.

“Progress has been very, very quick, and I had a first small test already week in Valencia in an old GP2 car that Mahindra organised,” Heidfeld explained to Current E today. “I was positively surprised that it went quite well. I see a very good chance that I can drive, but I cannot be sure.”

Heidfeld arrived in Buenos Aires on Thursday afternoon for the normal preparations ahead of this weekend’s Buenos Aires race, and will wait until after shakedown on Friday to make a final decision on whether or not he participates on Saturday.

“The doctor said the band is together, there is no risk,” he went on. “But, as I said, flexibility isn’t quite there and, on top of that, the muscles aren’t there and the tendons are not really as they were before. So we’ll only find out tomorrow how it is. At this moment, the best [thing] for me would be to do the shakedown on Friday and decide afterwards. This is where we stand. I am very hopeful but I can’t be sure.”

Mahindra team principal Dilbagh Gill is confident that Heidfeld will race, but has no qualms over placing Carroll in the second car if needed.

“Nick’s pretty much there but we just want to make sure he’ll be totally ready for us,” Gill said. “From a team perspective and from his perspective it would be best that he’s fully fit. We’ve decided that we would check up after shakedown and take a call. It’s looking good.”

On Carroll, Gill went on: “We have a very competent driver in Adam Carroll who tested for us over summer, so we’re very confident that should we have to make a very late decision tomorrow we have a good driver.”

Carroll has travelled with the team and is ready to race if called upon. He has also raced in IndyCar and GP2 but is perhaps best known for winning the A1 Grand Prix of Nations title for Team Ireland back in 2009.

Luke Smith