JANUARY 24, 2013

Alguersuari and Di Grassi keep Pirelli test role, as Jean Alesi becomes ambassador

Jaime Alguersuari and Lucas di Grassi are set to stay on at Pirelli as the tyre manufacturers test drivers in 2013.

Pirelli's motorsport director Paul Hembery said at the companies press launch on Wednesday, "I read on Twitter that Kobayashi would be unveiled today as a test driver, but he won't. There is no reason to change what we have. We have had a great time with Jaime Alguersuari and Lucas di Grassi. We need to renew our contract (with Formula 1) first, and then will look at the tyres and the compounds. There will be a lot more use of simulator, because we have worked extensively on tyre modelling. That is how we will focus on the changes for 2014."

At the event Pirelli also announced that former Grand Prix winner Jean Alesi has become a brand ambassador for the firm.

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