I recall my first report, the bright future, the fairy tale ending, or to put it another way; Jordan’s version of the Chelsea football club, Russian take-over, warehouse full of money and a promising future. Yet Chelsea have won the Premiership and Jordan are yet to win a race under new management. Sadly as we all know things just don’t change over night, and for Jordan its going to be a tough struggle to reclaim the days of 1999 when they were in the hunt for the World Championship. But, what has given the team a chance of mixing it in with the mid-field is Toyota’s RVX-5 engine, one of the most reliable on the grid. And as shown by Panasonic Toyota driver Jarno Trulli, its capably of landing podium finishes, yet Jordan’s 05 racer is little more than a upgraded EJ14 covered in the latest high street modifications. Thus far its still a handy little racer, Jordan wield card Narain Karthikeyan hurls it around as if it were a Go-Kart and some how is able to set a time only a few tenths behind the Panasonic drivers during the race. You just feel that with a bit more time and effort that Jordan could make an impression on the points if the aerodynamics were improved. Sadly Jordan are more glued to there Dallara chassis which will race next year under the rebranded Jordan team called Midland F1.

I honestly hope that Toyota will be apart of this team for another season, the future they could have together could not only benefit the works outfit Panasonic Toyota Racing, but Jordan/Midland F1 as a whole with its reliability and speed to match other independent rivals. The deal Eddie Jordan set up masterminded the teams survival and its his thanks that the team is on the verge of a successful future. But will Alex Shnaider now team owner of Jordan/Midland F1 find a new engine supplier? The market won’t set his underpants on fire as theres limited manufactures to choose, but if I was he; I’d stick with Toyota, as they are yet to fully unleash the beast, which is the Toyota engine! 

View a Printer Friendly version of this Story.