Pirelli set to name Kobayashi 2013 tester - reports

Kamui Kobayashi looks set to spend the 2013 season testing tyres with F1’s official supplier Pirelli.

The Italian marque has invited the media to its Milan headquarters on Wednesday for the launch of the sport’s 2013 tyres and a press conference "with Pirelli’s main motor sport protagonists".

French sources are reporting that Japanese Kobayashi, the former Sauber driver, should be announced as the main Pirelli tester for this year.

An Italian source is reporting the same.

Late last year, when 26-year-old Kobayashi was mentioned as a possible test driver for 2013, Pirelli’s Paul Hembery answered: "It’s a possibility.

"We’ll see what happens with him. I imagine he’s still trying to get a (race) seat, so we’ll wait."