Pirelli confirms Abu Dhabi tyre test

Pirelli has officially confirmed it will stage a tyre test following the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and have urged teams not use it as an opportunity to test new parts. 

Though in the pipeline for some weeks following an agreement with the FIA World Motorsport Council, it has been formally agreed the test will take place at the Yas Marina Circuit on the Tuesday following the 2015 finale, though it will be held over only a single day due to clashes with a GP2 test. 

Teams will be asked to run preferably race drivers or its reserve drivers – rather than rookies as has been the case at other end of season tests – and has urged them not to run with new parts so as to enable more accurate comparison analysis for Pirelli. 

All teams have been invited to take part by entering a single car, though participation is voluntary. 

An opportunity to conduct slick tyre analysis as a whole, the test will also see the debut of the new ultra-soft tyre compound, which Pirelli also confirmed will run in a purple livery for its 2016 outings following a fan vote. 

The test marks a successful outcome for Pirelli's lobbying to get more track time to test its tyres. The Italian firm threatened to quit F1 if it was not given more test outings in 2016 to develop tyres ahead of the incoming change in regulations for 2017, a request that has seemingly been granted after Pirelli was last month confirmed as securing the tyre tender until 2019.
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