By Phil Giles
September 21 2003

Up to now, I've tried to avoid the thorny subject of finances and Jordan's chances of making it to the Grid for the 2004 season opener. However, as the rumour mill rumbles on, I feel we need to have a bit of a recap as to what's been going on in the press and on the web so that we can all make our own minds up.

Jordan have secured a number of sponsors for next season, however it doesn't appear that the new sponsors outweigh the potential losses.

Jordan are rumoured to be loosing Brother and Damovo, long time sponsors of the team. Benson and Hedges are thought to be reducing their sponsorship given Jordans poor performance this season. Also we hear today that the Ford Motor Company are pulling out of World Rallying perhaps in an attempt to divert more money Jaguar's way. Jordan may also benefit however if Ford decide to invest the saved money in F1.

Back to Benson and Hedges. They are understood to continue their requirement for a British Driver but feel that Ralph Firman who has done a sterling job is just to slow. Ralph lapped Silverstone this week in 1m23s, three seconds behind the Williams. Zsolt Baumgartner managed the same time as Ralph with far less time behind the wheel.

At the Italian Grand Prix last weekend, Ted Kravitz (ITV F1's pit reporter) interviewed Renault test driver Allan McNish and suggested that the wee Scott may be after a race seat next year with Jordan. Allan's answer was not in the positive but neither was it a negative response. Allan was staying quiet which usually indicates that something is afoot. If McNish comes to Jordan, it can only be a good thing for the team. Allan has a vast ammount of race knowledge and as test driver and ex-Toyota race driver will be able to assist the team with set up knowlege for the various race tracks on the calendar.
 

Another suggestion for the driver line up is Jos Verstappen. The ex-every team on the grid Dutchman can bring a weath of sponsorship to Jordan. Trust, the computer peripherals company is rumoured to want to increase it's sponsorship if the Dutchman can place himself in a better team and Jordan seem to be one of his better options. Jaguar has been mentioned.

If Jaguar take Jos, there's one driver there who would be under threat. Thankfully, it's a Brit and if Justin Wilson does find that he's no longer welcome at the leaping cat, perhaps Jordan can welcome him to thier Silverstone base.

Jordan are no doubt in talks with plenty of drivers for 2004. Not only will there be new names looking for a drive but older more established drivers will also be in the loop. Eddie Jordan has already said that Sauber driver Nick Heidfeld would be very welcome at the team. We also hear that Heinz Harald Frentzen has healed the rift that began when he was fired from the team in 2001.

Pay driver Zsolt Baumgartner may also be in the frame if he can come up with enough cash to secure a drive. Zsolt has replaced Ralph Firman for the last two Grand Prix and in testing for the team last week. His lap times haven't been spectacular but in this years car, that's not surprising. He has been able to match the more experienced Firman on the track.

There are possibilities for the team off the track. Eddie has said that he would be prepared to sell the team to a manufacturer if it would mean that the team was invested in. Eddie himself would like to stay on as Caretaker Manager as such but overall control of the team would be passed to the buyer.

Merryl-Lynch who own 40% if the team are also looking to pull out and sell their share. They feel that the team has given them a poor return on their investment and seem to want to cut and run.

Can we say that the future looks bright of Jordan. Well no, not really. It looks perhaps a bit murkier than it did this time last year and that was before the announcement that DHL were to withdraw. However, this teams fans are ever the optimists and we know that Eddie Jordan is world renowned for his wheeler dealing.

The team has always made a profit and has never run in the red. They are one of the most identifiable teams on the grid and are the last of the privateers. Things can turn around so quickly in this sport that the team if the right sponsor can be found will be great again.

It will take time but I for one am looking forward to the usual flash of yellow on the grid for a few years yet.