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JEREZ, Spain - Pirelli has taken special winter tyres to the first pre-season Formula 1 test to ensure teams get as much track time as possible if the weather turns cold.
Testing, which will start in Jerez today ((Jan 28 2014) with 10 of the 11 teams has been brought forward from February because of the challenges posed by a new turbocharged V6 engine and accompanying energy recovery systems.
Jerez is the only test in Europe; two more are scheduled for the heat of Bahrain before the season starts in Australia in March and teams cannot afford weather delays.
WELL PREPARED?
Pirelli motorsport director Paul Hembery said: "In 2013 the teams lost some pre-season running due to excessively cold conditions in Spain: we even saw some ice on the track. To combat this we've developed a special 'winter' version of the hard compound.
"This will be used for the Jerez test only and it is designed to work effectively even in cold conditions."
Pirelli came in for criticism during the 2013 season for the rapid deterioration of its tyres and was forced to change compounds and tyre structure mid-season after a spate of failures at Silverstone.
The Italian manufacturer tested prototype 2014 tyres in Bahrain in December 2013 and has said it was aiming to be more conservative through 2014 given the huge technical changes the sport is undergoing.
The last of the four days in Spain will be dedicated to wet-weather testing; Pirelli has arranged for the track to be sprayed with water. Unless it rains, of course...
Stay with Wheels24 for the 2014 F1 season – fresh reports every day.
Testing, which will start in Jerez today ((Jan 28 2014) with 10 of the 11 teams has been brought forward from February because of the challenges posed by a new turbocharged V6 engine and accompanying energy recovery systems.
Jerez is the only test in Europe; two more are scheduled for the heat of Bahrain before the season starts in Australia in March and teams cannot afford weather delays.
WELL PREPARED?
Pirelli motorsport director Paul Hembery said: "In 2013 the teams lost some pre-season running due to excessively cold conditions in Spain: we even saw some ice on the track. To combat this we've developed a special 'winter' version of the hard compound.
"This will be used for the Jerez test only and it is designed to work effectively even in cold conditions."
Pirelli came in for criticism during the 2013 season for the rapid deterioration of its tyres and was forced to change compounds and tyre structure mid-season after a spate of failures at Silverstone.
The Italian manufacturer tested prototype 2014 tyres in Bahrain in December 2013 and has said it was aiming to be more conservative through 2014 given the huge technical changes the sport is undergoing.
The last of the four days in Spain will be dedicated to wet-weather testing; Pirelli has arranged for the track to be sprayed with water. Unless it rains, of course...
Stay with Wheels24 for the 2014 F1 season – fresh reports every day.