Force India has announced Nicholas Latifi as its reserve and test driver for the 2018 season.

The 22-year-old Canadian, a race winner and nine-time F2 podium finisher in 2017, will take part in young driver test sessions and participate in a number of Friday practice sessions at Grand Prix weekends.

"I'm really excited about the opportunity," said Latifi. "Sahara Force India is a team that has shown constant improvement for the last few years and I'm proud to become a part of one of the success stories of Formula One. I am eager to show the team what I can do and help them as they continue to close the gap to the front of the grid."

"Nicholas joins us off the back of a strong season in F2 and strengthens our driver development programme," added Vijay Mallya. "He will support our simulator programme and work with the team during a number of Friday practice sessions next year. We have a long track record of bringing on young talented drivers and Nicholas will learn a huge amount as he gets embedded in the team, and looks forward to a career in Formula One."

Finishing 5th in the 2017 F2 standings with DAMS, in 2016 Latifi was named as Renault's test driver as the French manufacturer returned as a constructor. In 2017 he participated in the Hungary test with Renault posting the seventh best time of the day.