IT will be a difficult year for Eddie Jordan's team this season. That was made evident yesterday when the Formula One outfit unveiled their Jordan Peugeot 197 car at a glitzy production in London's Hilton Hotel.
The team, who have had to undergo a major restructuring in order to compete more effectively promised the several hundred journalists a more exciting year after last season's disappointment. Jordan pointed in particular to their new drivers, Ralf Schumacher and Giancarlo Fisichella, "the fastest and most talented young drivers on the circuit".
The Jordan workforce has also swelled to well over 100 despite initial reservations from Jordan himself, who had always sought to keep the team small and intimate. He has come to realise that expansion is the only way forward.
Five million pounds has been invested, and with the help of sponsors Benson and Hedges and new technical equipment the Irish boss will be looking for no less than podium finishes this year from his young drivers, two of the least experienced of any team Italy's Fisichella is 24, Schumacher a mere 21.
Jordan played down rumours that former world champion Alain Prost, who is expected to announce next month that he has bought the Ligier team, will take over Jordan's supply of Peugeot engines. He admitted that this was the final year of his three year contract with the French manufacturer, but he also added that he was not worried about the future.
"This is the third year of our three year contract and we have never been closer," said Jordan. "We are working for the same aim and the improvement of our team is a major step forward. All the talk about the future is not for today and the resilience of Jordan and Peugeot has never been stronger."
Peugeot's sporting director, Pierre Michel Fauconnier, acknowledged the rumours about Peugeot's links with Prost's team, but when asked about it would only say: "I am afraid I cannot comment."
Coleraine's Gary Anderson drew Schumacher's and Jordan's approval for his design and technical improvements to the car.
"The new engine is better than the old one, especially in horsepower, weight and driveability, and that will help us a lot this season," said Schumacher.
"The difference is black and white," added Anderson. "That is down to the investment the team has put in the future, and our computer simulations show that, at Silverstone we should be between 1.7 and 1.8 seconds faster than last year. I believe it will happen."
As for the drivers championship, Schumacher predicted it would be a close struggle, primarily between the Williams drivers and his brother Michael at Ferrari.
He added: "It is too early to talk about competing with Michael as he is with a top team and I think he will fight for the championship this year. I think the championship is between Michael, Jacques Villeneuve and Heinz Harald Frentzen."
