Pirelli in favour of post-Grand Prix testing for 2012

As AUTOSPORT revealed last weekend, Formula 1 teams are edging closer a deal that will see the return of an official in-season test to allow development work.

The current plan, which was discussed at a meeting of the Formula One Teams' Association (FOTA) on the Saturday night at the Nurburgring, is for a three-day test to take place before the start of the European stage of the 2012 season.

The venue for the test has not been decided, as teams want to wait for the final calendar to be confirmed by Bernie Ecclestone and the FIA. However, one possibility being looked at is for the run to take place at a non-F1 race venue, like Mugello.

Although Pirelli is keen too for the test to happen, as it has very limited opportunities to run on track during the season, it has said it would make more sense if it took place at an actual GP track in the days after an F1 race.

Pirelli director of motorsport Paul Hembery told AUTOSPORT: "We'd love to do a mid-season test in correct championship conditions - preferably at a championship circuit.

"It would be ideal for us to stay on, as we do after the young driver test at Abu Dhabi, because then you have all the data from the race, plus the data you will get from any modifications.

"From our point of view it would be ideal if we could stay on after a particular race, and it doesn't really matter where it is."