Wednesday 28 July at 14:31 : Jul.28 (GMM) Nick Heidfeld fits the bill to spearhead new tyre supplier Pirelli's formula one tyre testing.

That is the opinion of Paul Hembery, the Italian marque's competition boss, after German Heidfeld earlier this year said he would be interested in becoming the Pirelli tyre tester.

Pirelli, F1's new official tyre supplier beginning next year, recently started testing its 2011 prototypes, but only with a GP2 car.

It is believed the marque will use a 2009 Toyota formula one car for its real development testing in the forthcoming months.

"We need an extremely experienced but also very fit driver, who can do 500 miles a day and not collapse afterwards. Heidfeld fits this profile very well and would be an ideal candidate," Pembery told Germany's Auto Bild.

Previously, on the basis of fairness to all the other teams, it was believed Heidfeld had been ruled out due to his ongoing role as Mercedes' reserve driver.

Pembery added: "Until the last race in Abu Dhabi, we will do six tests with an F1 car from 2009."

He said the tests will be held at venues including Monza, Barcelona, Jerez and Paul Ricard.

Pembery explained that the focus of the tests would not be laptimes, but the development of "consistent and reliable tyres".