Mat Coch writes:

Development of next year's Pirelli tyres has taken another step forward with two days of testing at Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium. Jaime Alguersuari and Lucas di Grassi are expected to share the duties, clocking up over 400 miles a day.

During the test the company will focus solely on a new range of tyres for next season, rather than any development for the 2012 campaign. "We're looking to develop our range of compounds to create another new challenge," Pirelli Motorsport Director Paul Hembery told Pitpass. "Spa for us is probably more extreme in terms of tyre integrity because it has high speed but also high load. If you're going to have problems during the season, that's where you'll have it."

Pirelli has been in the headlines throughout the 2012 season to date, credited with both saving and trivialising Formula One depending on your perspective. However the firm is not resting on its laurels. With some input from the teams it is pushing ahead with its new range of tyres, the 2013 spec rubber expected to be a departure from the 'step' change approach witnessed in 2012.

"It's based on comments we've had back from the twelve teams," Hembery explained of the new rubber. "It's what we see and feel in terms of ways we could improve the product - obviously going in the same direction but wanting to keep the product a technical challenge for the teams and drivers but without creating any problems with product safety or security. It's very much an improvement process."

Given as much it would come as no surprise to see Alguersuari's name linked with a number of drive for 2013 as this season progresses, with teams keen to hire his first hand expertise on the new-spec rubber.