• News

Pirelli expects more productive test

The Jerez track surface was too abrasive for the Pirelli tyres during the first test © Sutton Images

Enlarge

Related Links

• In Focus:
• Tyres

Pirelli is expecting the second pre-season test in Barcelona to be more productive for the teams than the first in Jerez.

The Jerez test saw the new tyres shredding on a very abrasive track surface, and with only one four-day test at the track per year the teams have limited data from the circuit. However, with the Circuit de Catalunya being used for two tests per year as well as the Spanish Grand Prix, motorsport director Paul Hembery said the teams will be able to compare the 2012 and 2013 tyres much more thoroughly.

"All the teams will have their new cars in Barcelona and the entire range of 2013 P Zero tyres will be at their disposal," Hembery said. "Barcelona is a circuit that the teams have plenty of data on already, which is useful for comparison purposes. So it should be possible for them to carry out plenty of productive work to help understand how their new cars interact with our latest generation of tyres, which are generally softer and faster than last year with deliberately increased degradation."

Hembery said the teams should get better data than they managed to gather in Jerez thanks to the track surface but warned conditions are still unlikely to be ideal.

"The limiting factor at the opening test in Jerez earlier this month was the abrasiveness of the track, so hopefully conditions will be more representative this time. There is always the potential for low ambient temperatures though: last year, we actually saw some ice on the track in the morning…"

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.