Tire shortage puts first test in doubt

A spokeswoman for Formula One's newly sole tire supplier has denied suggestions that the first test of the winter period may have to be called off or curtailed.

Despite announcing on Monday the signing of contracts with the six formerly Michelin shod teams, rumors this week hinted that Bridgestone was struggling to put together enough tires for the three-day test scheduled for Barcelona at the end of this month.

Bridgestone only agreed recently to supply the extra test, after some outfits expressed concern that two Jerez sessions in December was not enough post-season running.

"All of our partners will have tires (at the Barcelona test)," the Bridgestone spokeswoman reportedly told Auto Bild.

Speculation persists, however, that Bridgestone has not managed to construct enough development tires in its proposed 2007 design to fully supply the November test.

Hinting that chiefly irrelevant 2006-specification tires may therefore have to be used at Barcelona, an unnamed Bridgestone worker explained: "We were engaged for too long in the (2006) title fight."