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First GP: 1991
Constructor Titles: 0
Driver Titles: 0
Wins: 3
Pole Positions: 2
Best Laps: 2
Points Scored: 271
Number of GP: 198
Drivers:
11. G. Fisichella
12. R.Firman
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History:
1991 : |
5th in contructors Championship with 13 points. |
1992 : |
13th in contructors Championship with 01 point. |
1993 : |
11th in contructors Championship with 03 points. |
1994 : |
5th in contructors Championship with 28 points. |
1995 : |
5th in contructors Championship with 21 points. |
1996 : |
5th in contructors Championship with 22 points. |
1997 : |
5th in contructors Championship with 33 points. |
1998 : |
4th in contructors Championship with 34 points. |
1999 : |
3rd in contructors Championship with 61 points. |
2000 : |
6th in contructors Championship with 17 points. |
2001 : |
5th in contructors Championship with 19 points. |
2002 : |
6th in contructors Championship with 9 points. |
Career:
Eddie Jordan formed his own team, Eddie Jordan
Racing, in 1982 after becoming the Irish Formula Atlantic Champion and shinning
in Formula Three. In 1983, with Martin Brundle behind the wheel, he came close
to taking the Formula Three Cup after a season long battle with Ayrton Senna,
but the teams first title victory was given to them in 1987 by an excellent
season from Johnny Herbert.
Both the team and Herbert moved to Formula
3000 the following year, but unfortunately Herbert was severely injured at a
race in Brands Hatch. Eddie has always been one to give up and coming talent a
chance to drive and the following year he signed Jean Alesi who had been through
a bad season in Formula Three. Alesi repaid him by winning the championship in
1989, putting both the team and the driver on a very firm footing. He changed
the team name to Jordan Grand Prix, and took the plunge into Formula One racing
in 1991. Bertrand Gachot and Andrea de Cesaris were the first drivers for the
Formula One team, but the season was badly disrupted after an incident caused by
Gachot ended in a jail sentence. He sprayed CS gas into a taxi drivers' face
after an altercation at London's Hyde Park Corner on his way to a press
conference.
This is when Eddie Jordan gave another young driver a chance
and unleashed a powerful force into the world of Formula One. Michael Schumacher
drove for the team in the Belgian Grand Prix, but sadly, Eddie couldn't hold
onto this man that showed such great potential as Benetton spirited him away
before the next race on the calendar, something that left Eddie Jordan fuming.
Eddie ran with Ford HB engines in 91, and was regularly giving Benetton a run
for their money, but the team didn't have a guarantee of a top spec engine for
the 1992 season, so they signed a deal with Yamaha.
This proved to be a
disastrous move, and the agreement was severed. 1993 saw the arrival of Rubens
Barrichello and Brian Harts' new V10 engine. Rubens had many teammates that
season before Eddie ran a young Irishman by the name of Eddie Irvine for the
Japanese Grand Prix. The two drivers remained teammates for the 1994 season,
even though Irvine made a bad reputation for himself after an incident he
allegedly caused in Brazil, causing a three-race ban for the young Irishman.
Rubens went on to finish 6th in the drivers Championship and gave Eddie Jordan
his first podium finish when he came third in the Pacific Grand Prix. He also
gave the Jordan team its first pole position at the Belgian Grand Prix in the
same year, but unfortunately spun off the track after 19 laps.
The Jordan
team began to stand out behind the big four of Williams, Benetton, McLaren and
Ferrari, and due to this, the team was offered a three-year deal with Peugeot.
Things looked very promising with strong qualifying performances, but
reliability, or the lack there of, was the major downfall and the team began to
falter.
In 1997, Gary Anderson designed a good chassis and Eddie signed
two up and coming new stars, Giancarlo Fisichella and Ralf Schumacher. Although
they were both fast, their inexperience shone through in many ways. The younger
Schumacher even pushed his teammate off the circuit as they fought over second
place in the Argentinean Grand Prix. Fisichella led the German Grand Prix for
some time and finished the race in second place, with Ralf scoring points in the
second half of the season as well ensuring the team finished up fifth overall
for the season.
In 1998, Jordan opted for experience rather than youth
and signed the 1996 World Champion, Damon Hill. The team hoped that his testing
ability would make a great deal of difference and his demeanour would act as a
calming influence on the young Ralf Schumacher. This driver combination added to
the new Mugen Honda engines would put Jordan well into the top 4. Damon Hill
gave Eddie his first team win at Belgium of 98. Damon and Ralf raced through the
horrendous conditions and finished one two, not only giving Jordan it's maiden
victory, but made F1 history for the team by celebrating that victory with a one
two finish.
The team was growing in status, and Eddie's goal for the 99
season was to finish ahead of Williams in the constructor's title. Third was all
the Irishman wanted. His wish was fulfilled as Heinz-Harald Frentzen, who
replaced Ralf Schumacher, won another three races for the team and had many
point scoring finishes. Sadly, by this stage, Damon Hill had lost all passion
for the sport he once loved so dearly, and Heinz brought the Jordan team to
third, basically all alone. Not only did Eddie have that wish fulfilled, but he
also came close to having a driver win the coveted driver's crown as well. Up
until the third last race of the 99 season, Heinz was in with a real chance of
victory.
Unfortunately, instead of progressing as they had wanted to, 2000 saw the team
slip back don the grid, finally finishing 6th overall after being plagued with
reliability problems all season. They decided at the beginning of the year to go
with speed rather than performance in the hope of catching the leading two
teams. This decision backfired but they put it all behind them and looked to
2001 with Honda engines.
The expected performances still failed to appear
and after sacking Heinz-Harald Frentzen mid season, Eddie Jordan brought veteran
driver Jean Alesi on board. At the end of the year and a court appeal, the
outfit took fifth place in the championship, ahead of their rivals at BAR. 2002
saw a line-up of Giancarlo Fisichella and rising star Takuma Sato, however the
young Japanese rookie's only moment of glory came in the season finale when he
crossed the line in fifth place. Home fans went wild, but after continual
accidents throughout the season, it wasn't enough for Eddie Jordan to retain his
services for 2003.
After finishing sixth overall in 2002, the team
switched from Honda to Ford power for the new EJ13. Team boss Eddie Jordan is
now hoping to climb his way back up the constructors table before the year comes
to a close.