Jolly Jordan

Atlas F1

Jolly Jordan

For the first time in his Formula One career, Eddie Jordan sat down on Sunday evening to watch the Grand Prix televised highlights program. "I think I needed to make sure I wasn't dreaming," explains the Irishman, who once admitted he would not achieve inner peace until he wins a Formula One Championship. Well, two weeks ago, at Belgium, Eddie Jordan made the first step towards the dream - he won a race. And what a memorable win that was.

Eddie on the PodiumBut if you asked Eddie Jordan what he is, he'll tell you he is a survivor - that's how he sees himself. From poor to modest beginnings as a mid-field racing driver in the 1970s he has, in the space of 20 years, become one of Formula One's most known figures, the owner of a team which annually snaps at the heels of the sport's big players and perhaps has the best eye for new-coming talents.

Starting his career in banking in Dublin, the switch to motor racing came after Eddie experienced the thrill of karting during a summer spent in Jersey. He progressed not too brilliantly through various motorsport categories, however winning several races and championships - the Irish Kart Championship in 1971 and Irish Formula Atlantic Championship in 1978.

By 1980, he made his second career switch, this time from the driving seat to the office seat, setting up his own racing team, 'Eddie Jordan Racing'. "Besides," recalls Eddie, "I was married with one child and another on the way, and we had no money. It would have been selfish to continue racing."

As Team Owner, Jordan could sell, he could charm, and he knew how to make a race team work. Ten years on, he entered Formula One, bringing to the sport an energy and vibrancy previously unknown. As he explains: "People are not sure whether I am fooling or 100 per cent serious and that confusion can give me time to think."

Eddie Among Friends (Silverstone 1996)Indeed, Jordan's reputation for playfulness, despite sometimes overshadowing his achievements, can give him the upper hand. Who else would play drums at an impromptu rock concert or phone home during a race to find out the football scores? "I don't think you have to go through life with a sour face to reflect an image of seriousness. Why not be happy?" he says. And In the last two weeks, there was no doubt just how happy Jordan was.

"Damon and I had been invited in as the ITV studio guests on the night of the race," recalls Jordan. "When I watched it back at home, it passed in a bit of a blur. But I have not watched the race. I don't feel I need to as I have very vivid memories of the key parts."

What do you remember then?

"Oh, the re-start and leading into the first corner - that was fabulous, what a great feeling! Ralf's fantastic strategy which saw him move up to third place by the end of the first round of pit stops - a really key team performance, and the last eight laps which were so tough because Alesi was right behind us."

What about the Coulthard/Schumacher incident?

"I think I will remember that in the same way you remember the Senna/Mansell incidents - which is a shame really, but it was part of the race."

How did it feel to be on the Podium for the first time?

"That was another great memory, but to be honest, it was not as exciting as I had imagined."

After the race, Eddie rushed back to the place he says he likes the most - home sweet home. He and his wife, Marie, have four children, aged eight to seventeen. He says the lot "are precious and help keep me sane."

"I felt very cold and wet after being sprayed with all that champagne, the emotions were overwhelming and by 6 o'clock I really wanted to be home with my family. Marie was due to have come to the race, but because of the bad weather the helicopter had not been able to land. I wanted to be with her, and with the children, as they, more than anyone, have had to put up with my moods through all the ups and downs. It was a struggle to get back as we missed the British Airways flight, but our sponsor GdeZ (who loan jets to Jordan Grand Prix) came to our rescue and sent a plane to Liege. My Personal Assistant managed to get Oxford to re-open the airport. The controllers went in late at night to switch on the lights - can you imagine?!"

Eddie celebrated on Sunday evening with family and close friends. "Being with everyone on Sunday evening, I had flashbacks on how it had all started, how Marie and I had given everything up and left Ireland 21 years ago for this dream of running a motor racing team. It does not seem so daft now, does it?"

By Monday, Jordan was already a man on demand. "I did radio and TV interviews non-stop from 8am, the fax line was ringing continuously, as was my mobile. By two pm I decided enough was enough, and Marie and I went for a long lunch on the river in Henley." But on Tuesday, it was back to business for Jordan and his team. Well, nearly: Jordan was greeted at the factory with chants and singing of 'One-two, one-two, one-two'.

Hill makes it for Eddie"This race win is so important for everyone at Jordan," says the Boss. "It answers any critics who may have said we were only good at having fun. We won in style, and we made Formula One history by being the first Formula One team to have our maiden victory as a 1-2 finish. Perhaps I was imagining it, but I felt as if the engineers and mechanics were walking around the paddock holding their heads high, greeting team members from Williams, McLaren and so on as if to say, 'we are one of you now.' After all, only three teams this year have won races, and we are one of them."

"I believe we can go on from here. We have to fight for third place in the Championship. When you achieve one ambition, you must move onto the next, and we have nothing to lose in aiming for this. If we really get it right, it is a possibility."

When Eddie Jordan was asked, at the beginning of the 1998 season, what are his prospects for his team in the coming year, he replied: "Last year I decided not to try and predict race performance, and I am sticking to that policy. I dare not make any comments about victories - lets just see what happens."

Two weeks ago, at one of the most action-packed Grand Prix of the year, Eddie Jordan showed us, all right.


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