With the announcement that Pirelli has secured the contract to supply Formula One with tyres, the Italian manufacturer has said it will use the new 2011 GP2 car, currently in development, to test the tyres throughout the season.
With the in-season testing ban in place, teams cannot get a feel for the new tyres until the ban is lifted when the season ends in Abu Dhabi, where it is expected the FIA will approve a tyre test for the teams.
Pirelli also quashed rumours it would use the dormant Toyota chassis developed for 2010, before the Japanese team withdrew.
“There has been a bit of press about [us using the Toyota chassis] but it has probably come from them because they are trying to get someone to use the car maybe…” Paul Hembery told Autosport.
“No we are going to start with a GP2 car, the new GP2 car.
“Having discussed with the F1 teams the level of performance of the new GP2 car, it’s not so far off as you’ve probably seen. As a test-bed, particularly for integrity reasons, reliability and stability, it’s probably a good starting point.”
Pirelli already supply GP3 with tyres and are set to supply GP2 alongside F1 from 2011 in a three-year deal.
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