F1: Malaysia to be Pirelli's toughest test

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Adapted from GMM

The Malaysian grand prix next weekend could be the toughest challenge for Pirelli, who is about to enroll Lucas di Grassi as a tire tester.

Pirelli's racing boss Paul Hembery told Finland's Turun Sanomat: "The nature of the Sepang circuit and the more than 50 degrees of track temperature will probably be the most aggressive combination for our tires. Of course, any rain could change the situation, but it is probable that under normal circumstances the Malaysian grand prix will see an average of four stops (per driver)."

Amid the need for formula one's new official tire supplier to replace the departing Pedro de la Rosa, the italian website italiaracing.net claims that Lucas di Grassi will be Pirelli's new main tire test driver.

Pedro de la Rosa has been given permission to test Pirelli's 2009 Toyota in Istanbul this weekend, but after that he will focus exclusively on his role as third driver at McLaren.

Brazilian Lucas di Grassi, 26 and a renowned test driver, was left without a role in F1 this year after making his grand prix debut with Virgin in 2010.

Earlier this year, he dismissed initial reports about a possible Pirelli role as "speculation" but admitted being a tire test driver "would be interesting".