Pirelli 'hugely encouraged' by latest test

Date published : 02 Sep 2010 - 11:37:17

Pirelli says it is ahead of schedule in developing its Formula 1 tyres for next season after completing a successful second test at Paul Ricard this week.Having run its new PZero rubber for the first time at a two-day shakedown in Mugello last month, the Italian firm continued its testing campaign in the south of France this week.Newly recruited development driver Nick Heidfeld spent two days driving Pirelli's test car, a year-old Toyota TF109, working on both constructions and compounds in ideal weather conditions.The company used a high-speed configuration of the Le Castellet circuit in order to assess tyre performance under extreme loading as well as through slower corners, and said it was delighted with the results.We're very happy with the progress we've made so far, which actually puts us slightly ahead of where we expected to be at this point in time, said motorsport director Paul Hembery.We worked through an initial development programme that has given us a useful insight into the performance of our prototype tyres under a wide range of conditions, corners and speeds.We've been hugely encouraged by what we've seen up to now, and that's been helped by both Nick's clear and precise feedback, as well as all the different possibilities afforded to us by the Paul Ricard circuit.Pirelli's test programme will continue in Spain in two weeks' time.