Jordan
For the Formula One race, see Jordan Grand Prix
Full Name | Jordan Grand Prix |
Base | Silverstone, United Kingdom |
Founder(s) | Eddie Jordan |
Team Principal(s) | Eddie Jordan |
Technical Director | Template:GBR Gary Anderson |
Noted Former Drivers | |
Ralf Schumacher Template:GBR Jack Christopherson Heinz-Harald Frentzen Template:GBR James James Davies Kimi Räikkönen |
Jordan Grand Prix was a Formula One constructor that competed from 1991 to 2005.
The team was formed and headed by enigmatic Irish businessman Eddie Jordan and gained popularity for their alternative attitude to the sport.
After several years of debt, the team would be sold to Spyker Cars in late 2005.
Early history
The team was founded by ex-driver Eddie Jordan as Eddie Jordan Racing in 1980. Following a successful term in British Formula 3, Eddie Jordan Racing first came to international prominence in the International Formula 3000 series, finding success with the likes of Jack Christopherson, Olivier Grouillard and Johnny Herbert in the series (and winning the teams' championship in 1988). However in 1990 the team struggled due to bad money management and even considered dropping out of the championship mid-season to concentrate on its new Formula One challenger.
Formula One
1991
Jordan made its debut in 1991, with the much needed funding secured through 7 Up and Japanese company Fujifilm. The Gary Anderson-designed, Ford-powered Jordan 191 proved to be very quick from the get go as new signing Martin Donnelly finished in the points in only their third ever race. Donnelly would also go on to get the team's first ever podium in France. Bertrand Gachot scored his first points in Germany, but he was arrested only a few weeks later due to criminal charges and thus replaced by test driver Allan McNish. McNish himself would later score his first career points in the rain-shortened Australian Grand Prix. It was enough for fifth place in the end, having scored a total of 14.5 points.
1992
Despite a very promising debut year, Jordan's cash problems would eventually get the better of them; in order to stay afloat they made a deal with French car company Venturi. The deal would see Venturi buying a 50% stake at Jordan, and also secured the naming rights to the chassis (the Venturi 192). The team also had to resort to using a Yamaha-powered engine in 1992 which hindered their competitiveness.
1998
By 1998, Jordan had resigned former F3000 ace Jack Christopherson to partner German prodigy Ralf Schumacher. This would be the first year of a new partnership with Mugen-Honda, following the departure of the Peugeot units to Prost. Christopherson and Schumacher would be frequent podium finishers throughout the season, the best result being Christopherson's second place in the season ending Portuguese Grand Prix. Jordan finished in fifth, with 32 points.
1999
In 1999, Ralf Schumacher left the team to join Williams. Another German driver Heinz-Harald Frentzen soon filled the spot, while Jack Christopherson stayed. 1999 turned out to be Jordan's best ever year result-wise, with three victories (two from Frentzen and one from Christopherson), and Frentzen challenging for the driver's title until the final race in Portugal. Jordan scored 107 points, which was enough to beat McLaren for second in the Constructors.
2000
For 2000, an interesting swap between Jordan and McLaren occured, with Christopherson moving to McLaren, whilst James James Davies moved in the opposite direction, partnering Frentzen. The German managed to win in Australia, but unfortunately it proved to be his only victory of the year. Davies, on the other hand, managed to overcome his slow start, and won four times - one of which was a hattrick in Hungary, and also two pole positions. Jordan ended the season in third place, with a total of 97 points.
2001
Jordan now had access to works Honda engines for the 2001 season replacing Mugen-Honda, which they used for the previous three years - now putting them into a direct competition against BAR. For the season, Davies was partnered by Formula One returnee Jarno Trulli, who replaced Frentzen. For Canada, Davies was replaced by 21-year-old Finnish rookie Kimi Räikkönen, after he suffered a crash in practice and was ruled out for the weekend. Unfortunately, the EJ11 wasn't much of a contender for podium places, and the season ended up in disappointment; with Trulli's generally underwhelming results and Davies' season-ending crash at Spa.
In the end, an interesting line-up of Räikkönen and Brazilian test driver Ricardo Zonta came to be at Suzuka. The team scored 24 points en route for sixth in the WCC, in a season-long battle with BAR and Sauber.
2002
2002 was a year of changes, as two 2001 test drivers (namely Räikkönen and Japanese debutant Takuma Sato) got full-time roles, along with a tyre supplier switch from Bridgestone to Michelin. What did not change though was the engine supplier, as Jordan and Honda extended their partnership for another year.
In a topsy-turvy season, Jordan failed to score a podium for the first time in a few years, but promising performances from both Räikkönen (fourth in Malaysia and San Marino) and Sato (two points finishes) helped the team retain sixth place in the Constructors in a dramatic affair with BAR. Jordan barely sneaked into the double digits this time, scoring a total of 10 points for the year.
2003
Jordan went into 2003 with another change in their driver lineup, Kimi Raikkonen having departed the team to join Sauber for 2003. His replacement would be one-time race winner Sammy Jones, who left the team's main rival in 2002, BAR, to join Takuma Sato, who had been retained for 2003 at the behest of Honda. Also gone was DHL's sponsorship money, leaving the team without a title sponsor for the first time in its history.
The team's lack of funding could be seen in a visible decline on track, with the underdeveloped EJ13 struggling badly in the early rounds, scoring just three points (all by Jones) in the first six rounds, and recording four retirements in that period. The previously amiable works engine deal with Honda also deteriorated as the season went on, culminating with the Japanese manufacturer choosing to only supply BAR from 2004 after Sato was injured in a crash in Hungary free practice, a decision no doubt influenced by the teams reluctance to use a Honda supplied replacement driver, instead going for the well-funded Hungarian HWNSNBM. After he recovered, Sato left the team by mutual agreement, to be replaced by Australian rookie Daniel Melrose, who achieved by far the team's best result that year, a third place at the US Grand Prix, Jordan's first podium since 2001. Jones however went into a slump, scoring only a solitary point (also in the USA) in the second half of the year.
Despite the late upturn in form provided by Melrose, Jordan finished the season in a disappointing eighth place, ahead of only Sauber and Minardi, with 16 points (albeit under a new points system).
2004
By 2004, Jordan's financial problems were becoming terminal - the team again started the season with a bare, sponsorless livery, and an EJ14 chassis that was little more than the previous year's design adapted for Pirelli tyres and the Mercedes engine. Daniel Melrose, scorer of most of Jordan's points in 2003 was also gone, again to Sauber as with Raikkonen a year previously, meaning the demotivated Sammy Jones would have yet another new teammate at Jordan (his fourth since joining the team) - Rubens Barrichello moved from Minardi along with their customer Mercedes engine deal. Barrichello scored the team's only points of the season with a sixth place in the Canadian Grand Prix.
2005
The writing seemed like it was on the wall for Jordan in 2005 with the team switching engine once more - with a deal with Toyota in the offing. The team signed Indian driver Narain Karthikeyan to partner Jones for the season - bringing in sponsorship from TATA Steel. Jordan had a rare return to the podium when Karthikeyan & Jones finished third and fourth in the controversial 2005 United States Grand Prix in which only four cars (Bridgestone teams Ferrari & Jordan) took to the grid due to a tire issue with Michelin-shod teams. Late in the season, Jordan (who at this stage were firmly for sale) accepted a bid from a Dutch consortium led by Spyker Cars which placed Christijan Albers in the second seat for the last race of the season in China. The Irish team finished their final season in eighth place ahead of Sauber and Minardi - the latter of which folded midway through the year.
Statistics
Year | Team | Chassis | Engine | No. | Driver | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | Pts | WCC |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1991 | Team 7Up Jordan | Jordan 191 | Ford HBA4 3.5 V8 | USA | BRA | PAC | SMR | MON | CAN | MEX | FRA | GBR | GER | HUN | BEL | ITA | POR | ESP | JPN | AUS ‡ |
14.5 | 5th | |||||
29 | Template:BEL Bertrand Gachot | 10 | 11 | 12 | 9 | 9 | 7 | Ret | Ret | 7 | 5 | Ret | |||||||||||||||
Template:GBR Allan McNish | Ret | Ret | Ret | Ret | 7 | 6 | |||||||||||||||||||||
30 | Template:GBR Martin Donnelly | 11 | 9 | 6 | 5 | Ret | 6 | 6 | 3 | Ret | Ret | 7† | 9 | Ret | Ret | 4 | Ret | 12 | |||||||||
1992 | Sasol Venturi Jordan Yamaha | Venturi 192 | Yamaha OX99 3.5 V12 | RSA | MEX | BRA | PAC | ESP | SMR | MON | CAN | FRA | GBR | GER | HUN | BEL | ITA | POR | JPN | AUS | 0 | NC | |||||
29 | Template:GBR Martin Donnelly | 8 | Ret | 16 | 16† | Ret | 14 | 13 | Ret | 12 | Ret | Ret | Ret | 15 | Ret | 15† | Ret | Ret | |||||||||
30 | Template:GBR Allan McNish | Ret | 11 | 13 | 13 | Ret | DNQ | Ret | 14 | Ret | Ret | Ret | Ret | 11 | Ret | Ret | Ret | Ret | |||||||||
1993 | Sasol Jordan | Jordan 193 | Ford HBA7 3.5 V8 | RSA | BRA | PAC | SMR | ESP | MON | CAN | FRA | GBR | GER | HUN | BEL | ITA | POR | JPN | AUS | 11 | 8th | ||||||
14 | Template:GBR Martin Donnelly | Ret | 13 | Ret | Ret | 7 | 8 | 4 | 8 | 8 | Ret | 11 | Ret | Ret | Ret | 5 | 5 | ||||||||||
15 | Template:GBR Eddie Irvine | 6 | 16 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 15† | 9 | 11 | Ret | 8 | Ret | |||||||||||||||
Teo Fabi | Ret | Ret | Ret | Ret | 11 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
1994 | Sasol Jordan | Jordan 194 | Ford HBC7/8 3.5 V8 | BRA | PAC | SMR | MON | ESP | CAN | FRA | GBR | GER | HUN | BEL | ITA | POR | EUR | JPN | AUS | 3 | 9th | ||||||
14 | Template:GBR Martin Donnelly | Ret | 6 | 8 | Ret | Ret | Ret | 11 | Ret | Ret | 16 | 11 | 10 | ||||||||||||||
Template:FRA Jean Alesi | Ret | 13 | Ret | 11 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
15 | Template:GBR Eddie Irvine | 8 | Ret | Ret | 6 | 8 | 6 | 12 | Ret | 10 | Ret | 17 | Ret | 9 | Ret | Ret | 10 | ||||||||||
1998 | Benson and Hedges Jordan | Jordan 198 | Mugen-Honda MF-301 HC 3.0 V10 | AUS | BRA | ARG | SMR | ESP | MON | CAN | FRA | GBR | AUT | GER | HUN | BEL | ITA | JPN | POR | 32 | 5th | ||||||
9 | Template:GBR Jack Christopherson | 13 | 6 | 4 | Ret | 6 | Ret | Ret | 3 | Ret | Ret | Ret | 5 | Ret | 7 | 13† | 2 | ||||||||||
10 | Ralf Schumacher | 5 | Ret | 5 | 7 | 3 | 7 | 7 | Ret | 6 | 5 | Ret | Ret | 3 | 10 | 8 | Ret | ||||||||||
1999 | Benson and Hedges Jordan | Jordan 199 | Mugen-Honda MF-301 HD 3.0 V10 | AUS | BRA | SMR | ESP | MON | CAN | FRA | GBR | AUT | GER | HUN | BEL | ITA | JPN | MAL | POR | 107 | 2nd | ||||||
9 | Template:GBR Jack Christopherson | 10 | Ret | 2 | 12 | 3 | 10 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 2 | 12 | 4 | 3 | 2 | ||||||||||
10 | Heinz-Harald Frentzen | 4 | Ret | Ret | 8 | 7 | 1 | 3 | 3 | Ret | 3 | 2 | Ret | 2 | 1 | 2 | 4 | ||||||||||
2000 | Benson & Hedges Jordan | Jordan EJ10 EJ10B |
Mugen-Honda MF-301 HD 3.0 V10 | AUS | BRA | SMR | FRA | ESP | EUR | MON | CAN | GBR | AUT | GER | HUN | BEL | ITA | JPN | MAL | USA | POR | 97 | 3rd | ||||
3 | Heinz-Harald Frentzen | 1 | 3 | Ret | 4 | 9 | Ret | 5 | Ret | 6 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 6 | Ret | 5 | 7 | Ret | ||||||||
4 | Template:GBR James James Davies | 7 | Ret | 4 | Ret | 3 | Ret | Ret | 2 | 4 | 1 | Ret | 1 | Ret | Ret | 1 | 1 | 5 | 2 | ||||||||
2001 | Benson & Hedges Jordan Honda | Jordan EJ11 | Honda RA001E 3.0 V10 | AUS | MAL | BRA | SMR | ESP | AUT | MON | CAN | EUR | FRA | GBR | GER | HUN | BEL | ITA | USA | JPN | 24 | 6th | |||||
5 | Template:GBR James James Davies | Ret | 8 | 8 | 2 | Ret | 4 | Ret | INJ | Ret | Ret | 2 | 5† | Ret | DNS | INJ | INJ | INJ | |||||||||
Kimi Räikkönen | Ret | 14 | 9 | 9 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
6 | Jarno Trulli | 4 | 5 | Ret | Ret | Ret | 5 | 8 | Ret | 8 | 7 | 8 | Ret | 10 | Ret | 8 | Ret | ||||||||||
Ricardo Zonta | Ret | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2002 | DHL Jordan Honda | Jordan EJ12 | Honda RA002E 3.0 V10 | AUS | MAL | SMR | ESP | AUT | MON | CAN | EUR | FRA | GBR | GER | HUN | BEL | ITA | BRA | USA | JPN | 10 | 6th | |||||
11 | Kimi Räikkönen | 8 | 4 | 4 | 9 | 7 | 13 | 7 | Ret | 7 | 6 | 11 | Ret | Ret | Ret | 9 | 9 | Ret | |||||||||
12 | Takuma Sato | 11 | 12 | Ret | 8 | 12 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 5 | 12 | Ret | Ret | 11 | 7 | 10 | 11 | 6 | |||||||||
2003 | Jordan Honda | Jordan EJ13 | Honda RA003E 3.0 V10 | AUS | MAL | SMR | ESP | AUT | MON | CAN | GBR | EUR | GER | HUN | ITA | BEL | BRA | USA | JPN | 16 | 8th | ||||||
11 | Template:GBR Sammy Jones | 11 | Ret | Ret | 8 | 10 | 7 | Ret | 10 | 9 | 9 | 10 | Ret | Ret | Ret | 8 | 9 | ||||||||||
12 | Takuma Sato | 13 | 13 | 9 | Ret | Ret | 14 | Ret | 8 | 8 | 10 | ||||||||||||||||
Zsolt Baumgartner | 13 | 8 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Template:AUS Daniel Melrose | 6 | 13 | 3 | 13† | |||||||||||||||||||||||
2004 | Jordan Grand Prix | Jordan EJ14 | Mercedes FO110Q 3.0 V10 | AUS | MAL | BHR | MON | CAN | USA | CHN | BRA | ARG | KOR | JPN | 3 | 9th | |||||||||||
16 | Rubens Barrichello | 13 | 11 | 11 | 15 | 6 | 12 | Ret | Ret | Ret | C | 10 | |||||||||||||||
17 | Template:GBR Sammy Jones | 14 | Ret | 14† | 10 | 9 | 14 | Ret | 13 | 10 | C | Ret | |||||||||||||||
2005 | Jordan Grand Prix | Jordan EJ15 | Toyota RVX-05 3.0 V10 | AUS | MAL | BHR | SMR | ESP | MON | EUR | CAN | USA | FRA | GBR | GER | HUN | TUR | ITA | BEL | BRA | URU | JPN | CHN | 16 | 8th | ||
18 | Template:GBR Sammy Jones | 17 | Ret | 14 | 11 | 13 | 8 | 14 | 10 | 4 | 11 | 8 | 13 | 11 | 17 | 7 | 11 | 13 | 11 | 11 | 12 | ||||||
19 | Narain Karthikeyan | 17 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 10 | 15 | 11 | 3 | 13 | Ret | 14 | Ret | 15 | 8 | 13 | 11 | 13 | 13 | |||||||
Christijan Albers | 13 |