Nissany to drive in F1 practice sessions for Williams team
MOTOR RACING Roy Nissany expressed delight after joining Williams as the official test driver ahead of the new Formula One season.
The 25-year-old Israeli began his career in motor racing at the age of 14, and he joins Formula One following two successful seasons in Formula V8 3.5, where he secured 13 podium finishes and reached pole position seven times.
His achievements include two consecutive victories at the Silverstone track in the UK, plus wins at Italy’s Monza track, France’s Paul Ricard circuit and Jerez in Spain. Nissany competed in the Formula
Two championship in 2018, but missed last season due to injury.
Nissany said: “Today, I achieved the goal which I set for myself many years ago, to become a Formula One driver.
“This is a very exciting moment, not only for me, but also for everyone who has been with me along the way over the years.
“Formula One reaches a huge audience of fans and I am so pleased that they will now get to know Israel through the motor racing track.”
Nissany was joined at a press conference on Wednesday at the Peres Center for Peace and Innovation in Tel Aviv by the group’s president Claire Williams and Sylvan Adams, who has supported Nissany’s development in motor racing and serves as president of Nissany’s management group.
Nissany completed his first test in a Formula One car with the Swiss team Sauber Motorsport in 2014. He was asked by Williams to participate in two days of testing in Abu Dhabi last month, after which the group decided to sign the Israeli as the team’s third driver.
He will train with the team and drive on Fridays during Grand Prix practice at Formula One weekends, waiting for the opportunity to compete behind the wheel of one of Williams’ two championship cars.
Williams deputy team principal Claire Williams said: “It is a pleasure to welcome Roy to ROKiT Williams Racing in the role of our official test driver.
“Roy demonstrated his capabilities driving in the post-season Abu Dhabi test last year and we were extremely impressed with what he could do in a short space of time. He is a hard-working individual who we are excited to be working with this year.”