Ralph Firman was confirmed as Jordan Grand Prix's second driver for the upcoming season this morning.
The 27-year-old will partner Italy's Giancarlo Fisichella as the Silverstone-based team ended weeks of speculation by finally filling the last remaining seat for 2003.
Norwich-born Firman, who holds dual nationality as he has an Irish mother, has signed a three-year deal with the team.
"I still can't believe it - it has not really sunk in yet," said Firman. "That first race is going to be special, but there is a lot of work to do yet. This is what I have always dreamed of and I have never given up hope of getting into F1," he said.
Firman was set to defend the Formula Nippon title he won in Japan last year, with Brazil's Felipe Massa favourite to land the Jordan seat vacated by Japan's Takuma Sato.
However, Massa appears to have been unable to have come up with the necessary £3 million-plus sponsorship to bolster Eddie Jordan's budget, though it is unclear what funding Firman, whose father is a co-founder of chassis maker Van Diemen, brings.
But Jordan have been impressed by Firman's racing credentials, which include victory in the British F3 championship and a Macau F3 title success in 1996 when he beat the likes of Juan Pablo Montoya, Jarno Trulli and Nick Heidfeld, who all later graduated to F1.
Team chief Jordan said: "He may be a rookie in F1 terms, but Ralph brings a lot of racing experience and a formidable track record along with his enthusiasm and commitment.
"I'm impressed with his very cool and disciplined approach and I have a lot of confidence that he and Fisichella will be an awesome partnership on the track".