Challenging first test for Jordan

The first full test of the Jordan Ford EJ13 in Barcelona this week has been remarkable for its interruptions, which have been frustrating for the team and fans who are eager to evaluate the potential of Jordan's 2003 challenger. Some of the ...

The first full test of the Jordan Ford EJ13 in Barcelona this week has been remarkable for its interruptions, which have been frustrating for the team and fans who are eager to evaluate the potential of Jordan's 2003 challenger.

Some of the problems are within the team's influence and fortunately they are well on the way to being rectified, while others were beyond the team's control and at times the test schedule was actually at the mercy of airport baggage handlers. While the test seems to have been problematic, Director of Race and Test Engineering Gary Anderson is not overly concerned.

None of the issues seen should recur, and most of them, though frustrating at the moment, are part of the learning curve that we have to go through in putting a new package together. Overall this will improve the car's performance and reliability. The Jordan website asked Gary to tell it like it is.

Q: The rear wing came off the car today (Thursday). What happened?

Jordan-Ford EJ13 first test: Giancarlo Fisichella.

Photo by Jordan Grand Prix.

The rear beam wing broke when it was highly loaded on the main straight. This was caused by a combination of things. What we do know is that it is a stronger component than we used last year and we are doing some modifications tonight which will increase the strength, new components will be completely revised.

Q: It doesn't look like it's been a good week so far, what have the problems been?

I don't think it has been as bad as it looks from the outside. This is what building a brand new car is like and as you try things out it's not unusual that some of them don't work. A few of our problems have been self-inflicted in getting some of the new systems up and running. Some others are more fundamental but we are on top of each one as they happen. Other than that, British Airways and Easyjet lost car components on two different occasions, which cost at least one full day of testing.

It is important that we are up and running early and at least we are solving the problems now rather than at the beginning of March.

Q: How long will these things take to fix?

All of them are well underway now.

Q: Are you worried about any aspects of the car design or manufacture?

There are some 4000 components that make up a car and until the last lap in Suzuka, I will worry about every one of them!

Q: Are you concerned about losing out on testing time, with the limit on test days?

Each day is precious but if you are going to have problems it is better to have them now rather than later.

Q: Before the car ran, Jordan said the simulations were looking positive and on the day of the shakedown you said the car was in better shape than the EJ12 was in Melbourne. Are you still optimistic?

Yes I am optimistic, we are working through our test plan which is set to give us a better understanding of the car and not just lap time. We have a lot of work to do but that is our job and we are getting on with it in the best way we know.