Top Gun, water sports and piloting planes: Getting to know the real Roy Nissany

There are plenty of places where Roy Nissany feels at home: on the water, in the kitchen and out on track.

We spoke to the DAMS’ ace to find out a few of his favourite things, from recipes and holiday destinations to his taste in movies and music, get to know the real Nissany.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE THING ABOUT BEING A RACING DRIVER?

“The full answer is very complex, but in short, it is getting the opportunity to take a vehicle and guide it very, very fast, testing my abilities at a world class level. This means the world to me.

“I am passionate about professionalism even more than racing and I want to be professional in whatever I do. If I am in the kitchen cooking a recipe off the internet, I will try and be the most professional that I can be, in terms of understanding what I am doing and understanding the ingredients of what I am making and why they need each other to taste so good. I want to believe that I am doing the same in racing.”

IF YOU WEREN’T A DRIVER, WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

“I never have a sharp answer for this because there are too many things. One side of me says something with cars, but then another side of me says a pilot. When I was younger, I thought that I might be a pilot. No one really imagined me getting into motorsport when I was younger, so being a pilot felt more logical. I am also passionate about the law and real estate business, so there are a lot of 'could be's."

WHAT MEAL WOULD YOU COOK TO IMPRESS SOMEONE?

“It depends on the person's nationality. If they are Italian, then I am not going to show my Italian cooking skills because they won't compare. If they are British, then I could make a very good Spaghetti Cacio e Pepe, which is a very nice, traditional Italian pasta dish.

“If I was going to cook traditional Israeli food, then I would cook spicy white fish with some herbs and vegetables. Good old-fashioned recipes passed down from Grandmothers of Grandmothers. I enjoy exploring in the kitchen.”

HOW DO YOU RELAX AWAY FROM THE TRACK?

“I like spending time on the beach and spending time back in Israel. I love all sports in general, although I try to avoid sports where I can harm myself too much. In the summer break, Jet Skiing is my greatest and much enjoyable getaway from racing. I enjoy anything in the water - like a fish!”

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE VIDEO GAME?

“Grand Theft Auto... But not for the violence, I like it for the cars. I go and find a car on the game, an old average car, and I take it to the tuning shop and spend all of the character’s money on tuning that car and making it look sharp. I then leave it in the street, find another one and start again.”

WHO IS YOUR BEST FRIEND ON THE F2 GRID?

“Marcus Armstrong and I have become good friends. David Beckmann is a good friend of mine too. I get on with everyone, I think.

“Dan Ticktum and Jack Aitken are my teammates at Williams, and I get on with them. I like Guanyu (Zhou) very much, he is a good mate. I like to be everyone's friend. Rivals on track and friends as soon as the helmet comes off. “

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE MOVIE?

Top Gun.

WHO IS YOUR FAVOURITE MUSICAL ARTIST?

“Currently, when I want to relax and sing loudly in the shower, it is a band called Cigarettes after sex. They are very cool, I recommend them.”

WHO INSPIRES YOU?

“My father, who was a racing driver. He was not the most successful in terms of results, but he was very ambitious. He started to drive at the age of 37 and that is something that you just don't see in motorsport. He came from quite a poor family and became a Formula 1 driver, so he is a special role model.

“Juan Pablo Montoya as well. I was always told that I looked like him and then I started to become a fan of his. I have a picture of me looking over the fences at Hungaroring, excited to see him pass in the Williams, while I was wearing a Williams’ cap. When I saw that car in the Williams’ Museum for the first time I was so excited, I had goosebumps everywhere.”

WHAT IS YOUR MOST TREASURED POSSESSION?

“The first thing that comes to mind is my dog, Jonny. He's a golden retriever. Possession is not the right word for a dog at all, but my dog is definitely treasured.

“In terms of actual possessions, it would be my first car. I have kept it since I was 17, it is sat in the garage and has barely been driven. It’s a Renault Megane RS, white with red stripes and I treasure it a lot. Your first car, you never forget it.”

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE RACING MEMORY?

“My double win at Silverstone in 2016. I think that showed that I am capable of doing a really top job on track. The woman who presented the trophy to me gave the trophy a kiss before passing it over and the lipstick is still on there.”

WHERE WOULD YOU VISIT IF YOU COULD TRAVEL ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD?

“Anywhere with clear water, where I can be on a boat.”