In the wake of the news that Narain Karthikeyan is scheduled to become India's first F1 racer, Minardi has revealed that Chanoch Nissany is to become the first Israel-born F1 test driver.

In a groundbreaking development for Israeli motorsport, the Minardi has announced that, following two successful tests, and a further planned for later this week, it has signed Chanoch Nissany as an official test driver for the 2005 season. Budapest-domiciled Nissany will assist the team with its test and development programme in the course of the year, although he is not scheduled to take part in Friday test sessions during Formula One weekends. The news was officially revealed Wednesday morning to a packed press conference in this bustling Israeli city.

Nissany has not trodden a conventional route to the top levels of motor racing, having only launched his driving career in 2002, competing in the Hungarian Formula 2000 National Championship and Central European Zone Circuit Trophy. Results came quickly, however, and subsequently, he raced in selected rounds of the World Series Light by Nissan Championship and F3000 International Championship. In the last 12 months, he has also had four F1 tests - two with Jordan and two with Minardi.

"We're very pleased to be able to announce here in Israel that we have signed Chanoch as a test driver," says Minardi Cosworth Team Principal, Paul Stoddart. "In the course of the two recent test sessions in which he has participated, he has impressed us with his enthusiasm, his willingness to learn and his fitness. Although Chanoch has not competed in single-seater racing for that long, he nonetheless has experience of a wide range of machinery. As a result, we felt he could be of real assistance with the team's test programme this year. On a personal note, I derive considerable satisfaction from the fact that, once again, Minardi is able to contribute in a practical way to the very worthwhile goal of raising the awareness of Formula One in an area of the world where the sport has not previously had a significant profile. This can only be a good thing."