Sunday October 13th, 2002

Grand Prix team boss Eddie Jordan wept tears and breathed a huge sigh of relief today after his Japanese driver Takuma Sato claimed a crucial two points from a fifth place finish in his home Grand Prix at Suzuka.

Jordan has continually backed Sato through tough times this year, insisting he has the talent to become a World Champion despite numerous crashes that have tarnished his image. And the result, which moved Jordan up from eighth to sixth in the World Championship will provide crucial prize money to add to what is understood to be a limited budget at the Silverstone team for 2003.

"He probably doesn't know this but it is quite a lot of money that is," Jordan told F1 Digital+ as he stood celebrating on the pit wall immediately after the race. "It was not a good season for us and I have great faith in the boy. He has done an amazing job. To come here for your home Grand Prix and finish in the first five is great.

"The fans drove him on and it is great for them because suddenly they have got a Japanese star who can really do the business in Grand Prix racing. This is great."

After continued talk of Ulsterman Eddie Irvine moving to replace the little Japanese star, the result, which saw Sato hug his team boss shouting "Yeah, we done it" is unlikely to do much to change his future. Sato was lifted up by the yellow haired Jordan mechanics on the start-finish straight when he returned to park ferme, but the race could be the final time he works with them.

It is understood that major sponsor Benson and Hedges are yet to sign a contract with Jordan for 2003 and want a British driver to raise the team's image. Irvine is perfect, and that could mean Sato's big high will soon become a low.

"Obviously I have a contract that I believe and I hope that I stay with Jordan next year but now I want to celebrate this race and think about that later," said Sato. "Eddie congratulated me a lot and I am so happy to score the points for the team today. I never expected it."

It was the first time a Japanese driver scored a point on home soil since 1990, when Aguri Suzuki drove his Lola-Lamborghini to third place, and a podium, at Suzuka with Satoru Nakajima also claiming a point in sixth for Tyrrell.

Published at 08:13:10 GMT