Williams confirms Israeli-born Roy Nissany as official test driver

In a landmark announcement for Israeli motorsport, the ROKiT Williams Racing team has announced Roy Nissany as official test driver for the famous team.

Nissany, born in Tel Aviv, will participate in three FP1 sessions during the season and will also share vital simulator work back in the Grove factory with Williams Development Drivers Jamie Chadwick and Dan Ticktum.

A landmark event in Tel Aviv for Israeli motorsport 🇮🇱 pic.twitter.com/zqMQ3KMp7f

— ROKiT WILLIAMS RACING (@WilliamsRacing) January 15, 2020

“I am thrilled to become Official Test Driver for ROKiT Williams Racing,” said Nissany at the announcement in Tel Aviv. “This is also a landmark for motorsport in Israel. When I tested for the team in Abu Dhabi in December, I instantly felt comfortable in the car and part of the team. The experience that I will gain this year, immersing myself with Williams will prove invaluable and I’m looking forward to getting started, both on and off the track.”

"I'm so very, very much looking forward to getting started."@RoyNissany is ready for an exciting year ahead 👊 pic.twitter.com/zApjtfWrUN

— ROKiT WILLIAMS RACING (@WilliamsRacing) January 15, 2020

Splitting his important test driving duties with competitive racing, Nissany will also be driving in the FIA Formula 2 Championship in 2020, which he also competed in during 2018.

“It is a pleasure to welcome Roy Nissany to ROKiT Williams Racing in the role of our Official Test Driver,” commented Deputy Team Principal Claire Williams. “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.”

🗣"I really think it's a historic announcement to have an Israeli driver in Formula 1"@craigslatersky is in Tel Aviv speaking with @WilliamsRacing's Claire Williams on the signing of Roy Nissany✍️#SkyF1 | #F1

— Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) January 15, 2020

After enduring a troubled start to the season in 2019, Williams added that she hopes the lessons learned and structural overhaul will mean a smoother start to the 2020 season.

“We set ourselves some really tough targets over the winter, around aero in particular, about finding performance, and then on some mechanical issues as well. And these have been going well,” Williams is quoted on motorsport.com. “Obviously the key target now is getting the car to that test on time – and at the lights when they go green, if not before. And I have absolute confidence that that will happen.

“One of the first signs of success for us is that we passed all our crash tests, and most of which we did at the first attempt rather than like last year where we failed many of them: even at the sixth attempt.

“That [failing] obviously puts even more pressure into the system because then you’re having to deal with a crash test rather than worrying about getting the car out. So that’s been a good milestone for us over the winter.”