Pirelli eyes old BMW F1 car for tyre tests

A few-year-old BMW formula one car could be used for initial Pirelli tyre testing.

While admitting using Toyota’s unraced TF110 car is one possibility, the Italian brand has revealed that the first track tests for 2011 will be done with a current GP2 car.

With Pirelli replacing F1’s long-time supplier Bridgestone next year, it has also emerged that teams will try development 2011 tyres at an end-of-season test after November’s Abu Dhabi season finale.

But before then, and after the GP2 tests, work with a F1 car is necessary, admitted Pirelli’s competition head Paul Hembery.

"We think it (a GP2 car) is a good starting point. And then a formula one car, maybe not a recent one, but one from a few years ago," he is quoted by Autosprint’s Italian website auto.it.

"In this sense, we are talking with the teams. The important thing is that everyone agrees on the brand. For example, BMW might be a good choice."

BMW left F1 at the end of 2009, but its chassis partner Sauber is still on the grid and headquartered at the same Hinwil factory.