Alguersuari to test for Pirelli

Jaime Alguersuari will be getting behind the wheel of a Formula One car this season.

The 22-year-old Spaniard has joined ex-Virgin driver Lucas di Grassi as a official test driver for tyre manufacturer Pirelli.

Jaime Alguersuari was left without a drive in Formula One after his axing by the Toro Rosso team in December.

It was a sharp fall from grace for the Spaniard, who after making his debut for the team mid-way through the 2009 season in Hungary, Alguersuari was the youngest ever driver to race in Formula One.

Jaime Alguersuari went on to start 46 races, with his best result a seventh place finish, which he achieved twice this season in Italy and Korea.

For any driver, losing their seat is a big blow, but for someone who had come through the ranks with the Red Bull Racing team since he was 15, it would have been particularly tough for Alguersuari, not that you would ever hear the positive Spaniard ever complain.

Hardly a surprise then that he has taken this opportunity and is set to be just as enthusiastic about this role as he is any other.

'I have a huge desire to get behind the wheel of an F1 car again and return to competition so this is a brilliant chance for me,' he told the BBC.

Alguersuari has remained around the Formula One circus this season despite a lack of a drive and has been working for the BBC as a Radio 5 live summariser.

His testing role will see him share duties with di Grassi, driving a 2010 Renault in four tests during 2012.

Pirelli will test at Spanish tracks Jerez and Circuit de Catalunya, as well as Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium and Monza.

Pirelli will use the test to develop tyres for the 2013 season.