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Toro Rosso refugee Jaime Alguersuari has joined Pirelli’s Formula 1 tyre testing program.
The 22-year-old Spaniard will work alongside former Marussia Racing driver Lucas di Grassi at four tests this year, utilising the company’s 2010 Renault R30 test car.
Set to take place at Jerez, Spa, Monza and Barcelona, the drivers will develop the 2013 range of tyres, as well as assessing compound alterations that could be seen later this season.
While Di Grassi had been solely responsible for Pirelli’s testing activities last year, Alguersuari says he’s pleased to add the tyre program to his commentary duties with the BBC.
“I can’t wait to get started with this very important and challenging job of developing the new tyres for the future, which I’m looking forward to a lot,” said Alguersuari.
“I have a huge desire to get behind the wheel of a Formula One car again and return to competition, so this is a brilliant chance for me.”
According to Pirelli’s motorsport director Paul Hembery, the test program will help both Alguersuari and Di Grassi to regain top-line drives in the future.
“With opportunities for young drivers to drive a Formula One car so limited, this is a great chance for Lucas and Jaime to not only hone their testing and development skills, but also to potentially follow our former test drivers like Romain Grosjean, Pedro de la Rosa and Nick Heidfeld in returning to F1 or another top flight motorsport programme in future,” he said.