Jaime Alguersuari joins Di Grassi for Pirelli testing job

Jaime Alguersuari, who drove last year for Toro Rosso in Formula One, has joined Lucas di Grassi as a participant in Pirelli's F1 test program with its recently acquired 2010 Renault R30. Pirelli says that the two drivers will share duties at four development tests at Jerez, Spa, Monza and Barcelona. The sessions will be aimed at defining the 2013 range of Pirelli tires, as well as trying out compound developments that could be seen later in the 2012 season. Former Virgin driver Di Grassi did some running in the now-obsolete 2009 Toyota last season and has retained an involvement to provide continuity. Alguersuari, who is now working for Internet-based BBS Radio after being dropped by Toro Rosso, spent much of his Malaysian Grand Prix weekend in the Pirelli hospitality building. “I can't wait to get started with this very important and challenging job of developing the new tires for the future, which I'm looking forward to a lot,” the Spaniard said. “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.” “We learned a lot together and so we are both very happy to continue,” Di Grassi said of his return to the job. “This is a good opportunity for me to carry on the work that we started last year, which allows me to compare and contrast with all the tires I have tested so far. These tires are now a fantastic feature of Formula One.” Pirelli's motorsport director Paul Hembery said, “Our commitment to providing the best possible spectacle in Formula One is underlined by the fact that we have two extremely fast and talented test drivers this year. “Lucas will provide us with the reference point that we need from the development program so far, while Jaime brings an extra dimension from his experience of racing at the sharp end of the field throughout the last three seasons. We're going to be using the drivers for all of our single-seater testing activities, including GP2 and simulator development as well.”