Roy Nissany will participate in three Formula 1 practice sessions this year after joining Williams as the team’s official test driver.
Nissany, 25, carried out post-season running in the squad’s FW42 in Abu Dhabi last month, and has now joined the team in an official capacity.
The announcement was made during a press conference in Tel Aviv, Israel, with Nissany and team boss Claire Williams in attendance.
Along with three FP1 sessions Nissany will take part in one day of post-season testing, and will race full-time in the Formula 2 championship.
“I am thrilled to become the official test driver for Williams,” said Nissany, who qualifies for a practice-only Super Licence on account of entering more than six Formula 2 events in 2018.
“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.”
Williams has yet to determine the location of Nissany’s three FP1 sessions nor which race driver will stand aside in the respective practices.
Nissany, a race winner in the Formula V8 3.5 championship across 2016/17, most recently competed full-time in Formula 2 in 2018, placing 22nd in the standings.
He is the son of one-time Minardi test driver Chanoch.
“It is a pleasure to welcome Roy to Williams in the role of our official test driver,” said deputy team boss 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.”
The logo of Israeli Start-Up will appear on the FW43 for the duration of the three grands prix in which Nissany participates in FP1.
Williams has retained Mercedes-backed George Russell for another season and he has been joined by last year’s Formula 2 runner-up Nicholas Latifi, the sole rookie on the grid.
Along with test driver Nissany, Williams has Formula 2 newcomer Dan Ticktum and reigning W Series champion Jamie Chadwick as development drivers.
Williams has finished last in the Constructors’ Championship across the past two seasons, scoring just a solitary point during a 2019 campaign that was spent rooted to the rear of the field.
Nissany will compete in the 2020 Formula 2 championship with Trident and would need to finish in the top three of this year’s standings in order to reach the required 40-point Super Licence threshold.