By Phil Giles
September 18 2003

Jordan Grand Prix have taken part in the latest testing session at Silverstone. The circuit hosted a three day session where Williams and Jordan were the only attendees. Drivers Juan Pablo Montoya and Marc Gene were there for a hot Tuesday and they were joined by the home team on Wednesday.

Ralph Firman was at the wheel for the day, however things conspired against the Irishman when the EJ13 developed a gearbox problem.  Ralph managed an out lap and about four more laps when the gearbox went and the EJ13 found itself stopped on the track just on Bridge Corner.  The EJ13 wasn't seen again until after the lunch break but again could only run for a few more laps before mechanical glitches forced it back into the garage.

The team started the second day on a but of a low.  The car prepped in the garage but very driverless.  Ralph Firman had complained of headaches after taking to the track yesterday.  The team decided not to run Ralph again although he was present at the circuit.  Instead, the team called on the services of Zsolt Baumgartner.  The Hungarian driver got a last minute call from the team and was helicoptered into the circuit arriving at 11am.

The team were using the T-Car and as a result, time was of the essence.  The car needed to be boxed up, ready for shipping out to the US for the United States Grand Prix.  The car appeared more reliable for today's session but it's still three seconds slower a lap than the Williams.

The test was the last Jordan test of the season, except for the Friday morning sessions that they signed up for at the beginning of the season.  We tried to get some opinion on the friday sessions from one of the Jordan engineers.  It would seem that the sessions have been beneficial to the team but perhaps only at certain events.  There are only a few parts that can really be tested in house so on track time is preferable.  Teams like Renault have got around this problem by spending the money they save in testing on things like developing their wind tunnel, a course of action which has seen them really improve this year.

Anyway, it was great to see the car in situ and out on the track.  The EJ13, like all the Jordan's preceding it is a wonderful looking car.  It hasn't got the power that it needs to push it up the grid but Jordan are doubtless making plans for improvement in 2004.

A gallery of photographs from this session will be available later today.  Watch the message board for further information.