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AN official private test for Pirelli, the exclusive Formula One tyre supplier from next season, will take place in Bahrain at the beginning of December, writes Stan Szecowka.
The aim is to 'fine-tune the tyres' following an initial examination last weekend at the Yas Marina circuit in Abu Dhabi.
Paul Hembery, Pirelli's motorsport director, said: "We've passed our first test with full marks. All the teams have done plenty of laps and everyone has worked very hard.
"We're focussed on the development of the front tyre and that has given us the most satisfaction."
Each team completed an average of 80 laps and 5,500 kilometres on Saturday, adding to the total of 5,000 kilometres run on Friday, to conclude the first official tyre test.
A total of 15 drivers were on track: one per team apart from McLaren, Force India and Sauber, which used two drivers. The test was carried out in hot and dry conditions all day ranging between 23 and 28 degrees centigrade.
Each car had four sets of tyres at its disposal, two medium-compound sets and two soft-compound sets.
The next private tests are scheduled to take place in Bahrain from December 12-16, where Pirelli's engineers will once more try out the various compounds in hot conditions.
There will be another private test session in Europe during January, before all the teams reconvene at the beginning of February for the first official test.
Hembery added: "We've now collected a huge amount of data and opinions, which we will start to analyse as we prepare for the next tests in Bahrain. After that, we will have finalised our product and we can look forward to the next official test with all the teams."
The teams are being backed up throughout the tests by Pirelli's engineers and technicians. The Italian company has placed a dedicated engineer at the disposal of each team, in order to collect data and opinions that will be discussed with the teams and drivers.
Last weekend there was a final briefing between the teams and Pirelli to share information and focus more closely on some of the data that had been obtained. Pedro de la Rosa - one of Pirelli's drivers in private testing along with Nick Heidfeld and Romain Grosjean - was also present to support Pirelli's F1 squad. De la Rosa has visited all the teams to get the first impressions from the drivers and their individual opinions.
The top three drivers testing last weekend were Fernando Alonso (Ferrari): 1.40.529 (105 laps), Rubens Barrichello (Williams): 1.41.294 (101 laps) and Sebastien Buemi (Scuderia Toro Rosso): 1.42.145 (98 laps).
Former F1 champion Michael Schumacher (Mercedes) clocked a time of 1.40.685 after tyre testing over 74 laps at the Yas Marina circuit in Abu Dhabi. He said: "We gathered a lot of data and insights and have positive feedback from our first impression of the new tyres.
"I am probably the only driver to have driven with Pirelli tyres before but it was 20 years ago and I didn't have any certain expectations before today.
"In terms of consistency, it looked quite good but we were using the 2010 car and it will be all about how these tyres suit our 2011 car. I am already curious to try it out but at the same time I am looking forward to having a break now."
Team boss Ross Brawn added: "This weekend's test has been very productive for us and comes at a time when we can use the information gathered here to fine-tune the detail of our 2011 car and optimise the areas which we believe will be critical.
"Pirelli have done an excellent job to get these tyres to where they are now after such a short period of time and we are looking forward to working closely with them through the winter test programme."
