New Formula 1 tyre supplier Pirelli ready for first test in Abu Dhabi
The Italian tyre company Pirelli is making its debut as Formula 1’s official tyre supplier in Abu Dhabi this week, after taking a 19-year break from the sport. Starting on Friday, 12 teams are trying out Pirelli’s tyres at the Yas Marina circuit. The company
will supply Formula 1 with over 50,000 tyres over the 2011 season, according to official sources.
The testing will continue for two days, after which Pirelli will make whatever adjustments are needed based on test results. "We come to these tests with plenty of confidence and satisfaction with our work carried out so far," Pirelli motorsport director
Paul Hembery told the Formula 1 official website.
Having conducted private tests in Monza, Bercelona, Paul Richard, Mugello and Jerez, in an effort to fine-tune the tyres for next season, this is Pirelli's first public test. Pedro de la Rosa, Nick Heidfeld and Romain Grosjean drove the Toyota TF109 in
the private tests, clocking a total of 7000 kilometres.
With the help of Pirelli engineers, the Abu Dhabi trial run is expected to go smoothly. "The tests in Europe have given us all the data we needed at this current phase of development. From tomorrow, the drivers and engineers from every team will give us
their opinions and feedback, which are of vital importance for the second phase of testing: a challenge that we are already well-prepared for," Hembery told the Formula 1 site.
The teams, each with eight sets of tyres over the two-day test period, will be in charge of the logistics of the tests. Using both medium and compound slick tyres, the teams have already adapted their strategy for the 2011 season programme, and they will
be assisted at every step of the way by Pirelli engineers.
Every team will be given an engineer who will work according to each team’s specific requirements, and will depend on the 30 person Pirelli group in case of necessity. The teams and engineers will update each other on results at the end of each test day.
Following the trial run at Yas Marina, Pirelli told Formula 1 that it is planning more private tests in Bahrain this December.
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