No Portimao on 2011 winter test schedule

Reports that Portimao will host an official pre-season test early next year have proved wide of the mark.

A British magazine said earlier this month that one of the few winter tests will take place at the Portuguese circuit in addition to the more usual Spanish venues.

But two unofficial pre-season test schedules, revealed within the Finnish and Italian media, have named four other venues for the initial testing of next year’s cars.

The schedule shows Valencia’s permanent Ricardo Tormo circuit as the scene of the first winter test on 1-3 February.

The second and third venues are Jerez (10-13 February) and Barcelona (18-21 February).

And the fourth and last group test is expected to take place in Bahrain on 3-6 March, the week before the season opener at the same Sakhir circuit.