Ex-Toro Rosso driver Jaime Alguersuari will test for Pirelli

Jaime Alguersuari has been working as a summariser for BBC Radio 5 live

Former F1 driver Jaime Alguersuari has been named as an official test driver for tyre supplier Pirelli.

The Spaniard joins ex-Virgin driver Lucas di Grassi in the role.

Alguersuari, a BBC Radio 5 live summariser, was dropped by Toro Rosso in 2011 but hopes the Pirelli role will provide a route back to F1.

"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," the 22-year-old said.

Alguersuari and Di Grassi will drive a 2010 Renault in four development tests this year that will help Pirelli decide which tyres will be used in the 2013 season.

The tests will take place at Jerez and Circuit de Catalunya in Spain, Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium and Italy's Monza.

Alguersuari joined Toro Rosso in 2009 and, at the age of 19, became the youngest driver in F1 history. He achieved seven top-10 finishes in 2011, but he and fellow driver Sebastien Buemi were dropped in December in favour of Daniel Ricciardo and Jean-Eric Vergne.