Jordan secure works Honda deal

[Minardi fan]

From Planet F1, 29th June 2000:

June 29: Planet F1 can reveal that Jordan are
on the verge of announcing a works engine
deal with Honda.

Planet F1 has learned that Jordan have secured a
deal with Honda to use their V10 engines in 2001.
The deal, set to be publicly announced this
weekend, will give Jordan equal status with British
American Racing and is certain to ensure that
Heinz-Harald Frentzen remains with the Silverstone
based outfit. Team boss Eddie Jordan is
understandably delighted, and has thanked Honda
for their commitment to his team.

"This is a massive breakthrough for Benson &
Hedges Jordan. To have the support and
commitment of Honda gives renewed credibillty to
our ambitions to win the World Championship,”
Jordan said.

“I believe that Jordan-Honda now represents the
most exciting technical package for the years
ahead. Finally I would like to thank Mr Hirotoshi,
Honda and Mugen for their great support and their
encouragement in creating the platform for the
future."

Although this is tremendous news for Jordan, it will
be greeted with mixed reactions by BAR. It's
believed that the Japanese giant is not overly
impressed with the Brackley based outfit's
progress this season and sees the Jordan deal as
an opportunity to get back to the top of the podium
that little bit quicker.

"Along with our joint development of chassis
technology with BAR, supplying works engines to
Jordan represents a new challenge in Honda's third
period of participation in F1," said Takeo Fukui,
Senior Managing and Representative Director of
Honda Motor Co., Ltd., in charge of Honda's motor
sports activities.

"Through these efforts, we will continue to do our
utmost to meet the expectations of motor sports
fans.”

It's widely believed that Bernie Ecclestone and Max
Mosley are keen to see engine manufacturers
supply more than one team, and with pit-lane
pundits predicting that such a ruling could be made
official within the next couple of years, by signing
this deal Honda have pre-empted any changes in
the regulations.

How this will affect the Jacques Villeneuve situation
is unknown, but it's believed that Benetton have
now increased their previous bid of £15m for the
Canadian's services. However it's understood that
Renault are unhappy with the former champion's
unwillingness to do promotional work.

Frentzen for WDC 2001... YES!

[TimD]

Excellent news. Sky just did a news report on it too, so it looks pretty official.

Go Frentzen! Couldn't happen to a nicer fellow!

[jack]

It all depends on how much they miss Mike Gascoyne. But EJ has worked to ensure no-one in the team is irreplacable, prefers to invest in resources.
Probably race contenders in '01, perhaps championship contenders thereafter.
Frentzen is the man. He's mega-quick, but also mature & intellegent. offered big money by Jag, but surely he'll stay. He's made that team very much his own.
Jeez, EJ turns water into wine...AGAIN!!!!

[Peter Mallett]

May I suggest we look at the topic "Bye Bye BAR"

[Mr.S]

Damn it! I wake up this fine Thursday and go to Formula1.com, read the headline, and get all-excited about being the first to know, I get here and there is already three responses!, Aw well.

I think Honda finnaly understands what we have known for the past year, BAR was the wrong team. Now, a Jordan with a works engine thats a scary sight! I just hope that BMW can get its act back together before 2001.

Ralf Schumacher for WDC!!!
(Yes I know what he drives)

[KC]

EJ and the team have deserved this level of support after their results from the last couple of years. I am glad to see it. Jordan cannot afford to fall behind BMW-Williams any further.

[Sharky]

This is great news but as Jack said.....we'll have to wait and see how they doo without Gascoyne. But having an engine deal sure takes a load off the team....this of course is very bad news for BAR.

I have a question...taking into account the latest rumors....could it be then that Prost could land on a Mugen deal?

[AL Racing]

AH! Yolly good, Jordan really deserves a works deal, IMO Honda along with Renault is the best engine manufactuer in F1 history. It seems that we finally can see another team challening for the Championship. I read on Daily F1 that this almost assures Prost the Mugen engine for next year. This is really great for F1 to become even more competertive.

The questionmark is wether Villeneuve will go to Jordan, I hope so but it's more likely that Frentzen will stay, and Trulli is contracted for next year I think.

[Liz]

There will be no stopping Jordan next year - if they can just get their reliability back they will be awesome!

I live for the day HHF is crowned WDC and says from the Podium "FRANK WILLIAMS - THIS ONE'S FOR YOU!"

[Sharky]

I dont think that JV will be going to Jordan. In fact I read on ITV that this engine deal almost secures the drives of Trulli and Frentzen for next year. I think that they'll be a force to reckon next year....much more than in the 99 season.

A for JV. Now I'm sure that he'll be leaving BAR because the only thing that kept him there was that Honda was supposed to work closely with the team...but now...

As for Prost....I'm glad to hear that. This could be the break Prost is looking.

AL Racing. You're totally right. Honda and Renault rule above all. There is non higher.

And Liz...I would like to see that too!

[Minardi fan]

Hmmmmm... Mugen engines up for grabs...

Why would this assure a deal for Prost? BAR could end up with the customer engines, or Arrows or Minardi.

Either of the last 3 would surely be a better choice than Prost.

And does this mean the return of.... SHINJI NAKANO?????

[EERO]

Mfan, I think the implication is that BAR will continue with a works deal: Honda will have two works engine deals.
BAR will still receive additional chassis and aerodynamic support from Honda,
A return of the Mugen's to Prost makes sense to me. I still think Arrows will have Supertechs next year.

[Jay]

Nice catch Jordan. I think that Honda have one of the best engines this year, possibly even at or above the calibre of Ferrari and Mercedes. The problem has been the Reynard chassis all along. It is what prevents JV from getting on the podium or even winning races.

Now that the Honda engine will be in a good car, I am thinking the Jordan will be one of the front runners in 2001. With Williams getting better, could 2001 be the first season that McLaren and Ferrari have challengers?

As for JV, I would not be surprised now if he stays with BAR. Although Benetton (Fisi) has been the best of the rest so far, the BAR, with Honda's help will still be a better drive in 2001.

Besides, all Benetton wants is a spokes person. BAR want (and need) a driver.

[Mr.S]

I dont think that McLaren and Ferrari will be challenged that much next year, although they will be loosing alot more pionts. Any time one of these teams makes a small slip up a Williams, Jordan or Benetton will be there to make them regret it.

I'm also sorry to say that Honda will score their first victory before BMW.

[Sharky]

What EERO is saying is true. Honda will give main engines to both teams but that's not good for BAR because now Honda will work with the 2 teams instead of working only for BAR. I would guess that Honda was giving extra money to BAR and now they'll at least cut down on that amount.

I also agree with Jay that the Honda has been a great engine but the car is not "honda worthy".

As for mugen...remember that they have already worked with prost and Alain said recently that he wanted to go back with Mugen so the move makes sense....and about Nakano. I think he's happy breaking cars back in the CART series.

[enemy-ace]

I don't think that Villeneuve will leave BAR, they still have too many talented people in their team to languish at the back forever. Plus the financial resources and facilities to implement their ideas are there. Jordan on the other hand are losing a talented designer and still lack top team cash.
HONDA are very smart to pit these two teams against each other, nothing raises the BAR (no pun intended) higher than some good competition.
Say Good-bye to Zonta! Hello to Button!

And now my nephew doesn't have to take the HONDA motor out of his Bright Yellow Go-Kart!