The 2011 season essentially kicks off at the Abu Dhabi circuit tomorrow when the 12 teams will try out next year's tyres for the first time.

Slick tyres in medium and soft compounds will be used, distinguished by a coloured stripe on the sidewall. Each team will have eight sets of tyres available to them for the two days of testing. The test marks Pirelli's return to F1 after a 19-year absence. The Italian tyre company has brought 384 tyres and 30 people to Abu Dhabi for its debut.

Pirelli's Formula One team has now concluded the first phase of testing, following eight private tests and 7000 kilometres on challenging circuits all over Europe

"We come to these tests with plenty of confidence and satisfaction with our work carried out so far," said Paul Hembery (above), Pirelli's motorsport director. "The tests in Europe have given us all the data we needed at this current phase of development. Tomorrow, the second phase gets underway..."

The first taste of the new tyres that all the teams will have comes after a programme of eight private tests that Pirelli has carried out, starting from the 19 August when the tyres took to the track for the first time. Since then, the Toyota TF109 chosen as a development car has racked up around 7000 kilometres with Nick Heidfeld, Romain Grosjean and Pedro de La Rosa at the wheel, in all sorts of weather conditions on a variety of European circuits.

Pirelli's engineers, led by Paul Hembery, have been to Mugello, Monza, Barcelona, Valencia, Jerez and Le Castellet to try out all the different types of tyre that will be supplied to the teams next year according to FIA regulations: four slick tyres (ranging from super-soft to hard) one intermediate tyre, and one rain tyre.

"We come to these tests with plenty of confidence and satisfaction with our work carried out so far," said Hembery. "The tests in Europe have given us all the data we needed at this current phase of development. From tomorrow, the drivers and engineers from every team will give us their opinions and feedback, which are of vital importance for the second phase of testing: a challenge that we are already well-prepared for."

The Abu Dhabi tests are conducted by the teams, who have determined the programme and parameters that they would like to cover during the next two days. Both the medium compound slick and the soft compound slick will be used, distinguishable by a coloured stripe on the sidewall. Each team will run just one car. Every team will have eight sets of tyres available, four for day one and four for day two, which adds up to a total supply of 384 Pirelli tyres.

During the test, the teams will be fully supported by Pirelli's engineers and technicians. In particular, each team will have an assigned engineer throughout the test as well as being able to rely on the back-up of the entire group, which numbers 30 people.

Today, Pirelli's engineers and technicians will meet all the teams for a general briefing, during which details of the forthcoming test programme will be discussed. At the end of each day of testing, there will also be an additional debrief between all the teams and Pirelli in order to compare information.

After Abu Dhabi, Pirelli will move on to Bahrain in early December for more private testing, in preparation for the first official tests with all the teams next year, which get underway in January.