"THIS is a great opportunity for Jordan Grand Prix and one we have worked on for a long time," enthused Eddie Jordan in his north Oxford home last night about yesterday's confirmation that Mugen Honda will supply their V10 engines to the team until the end of the year 2000.
"Our partnership with Mugen Honda will provide additional strength and depth to our package with an unparalleled commitment to success," added the Irish team owner who is renewing a successful liaison with the Akasa City- based engine builder.
Jordan's switch to Mugen Honda was on the cards from the moment Alain Prost entered Formula One as a team owner earlier this year.
Jordan secured options on both the Mugen Prost currently uses and the Peugeot and has opted for the Japanese engine. This will please designer Gary Anderson who has been disappointed with the rate of progress of the Peugeot: "It's the lowest reving F1 engine in the paddock and for power you have to have the revs."
Mugen is an offshoot of Honda and is run by Hirotoshi Honda who last night reflected on his new partner: "Jordan won Mugen Honda its first international championship in 1989 when Jean Alesi won the F3000 championship and I am pleased that we will seek our first championship at the highest level together.
The Mugen Honda V10 has a splendid pedigree. Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost won 15 of 16 races of 1989 with the Honda V10 powered McLaren. In 1991 and 1992 Honda switched to a V12, while in the latter year Mugen developed the Honda V10 for Footwork. In 1994 Mugen supplied Lotus, then in serious decline and for the past three years it has supplied Ligier/Prost.
Gary Anderson has been working on the 1998 car since May and will shortly visit Japan to finalise all the details on cooling requirement etc.
Damon Hill's Formula One future was back in the balance yesterday after his Arrows team lost out on the lucrative engine supply deal. Hill's team chief Tom Walkinshaw had been hoping to swap his Yamaha engines criticised for their lack of reliability and horsepower for the Mugen Honda engine from next year.
Hill was tipped to join Jordan this season before opting for a Pounds 4.5million deal with TWR, but could yet link up with the ambitious Silverstone team.
Jordan's current drivers Giancarlo Fisichella and Ralf Schumacher have been linked with moves to Benetton and McLaren respectively for next season, leaving places to be filled in the cockpit.
Hill's acknowledged technical know-how and feedback could be vital as Jordan begin the learning process with Mugen-Honda after three years with Peugeot.
