Mar.10 (GMM) Pedro de la Rosa is returning to McLaren as the British team's test and reserve driver.

After leaving his long-time role with the Woking based squad at the end of 2009 to return to racing with Sauber, the 40-year-old was hoping to stay on the grid this year with HRT.

But after HRT announced that Vitantonio Liuzzi will complete the 2011 grid, McLaren said de la Rosa will once again be in its garage this season.

"Of all the teams I've driven for in formula one, McLaren is the one that really feels like home," he said.

De la Rosa is therefore vacating his role as Pirelli's tyre test driver, and the Italian marque is expected to name a successor.

McLaren said Gary Paffett, who also races in DTM, will remain a test driver in 2011 but no longer attend grands prix.

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