Jordan launched 1999 car

Eddie Jordan, Chief Executive of Jordan Grand Prix, today unveiled the Benson and Hedges Jordan Mugen-Honda 199 car in which Damon Hill and Heinz-Harald Frentzen will contest the 1999 Formula One World Championship. Revealing the car at the ...

Eddie Jordan, Chief Executive of Jordan Grand Prix, today unveiled the Benson and Hedges Jordan Mugen-Honda 199 car in which Damon Hill and Heinz-Harald Frentzen will contest the 1999 Formula One World Championship.

Revealing the car at the famous London Palladium theatre, Jordan claimed the distinctive Benson and Hedges "stinger' liveried car heralds a new era for the team which scored its first victory in the 1998 Belgian Grand Prix.

'Spin doctors would probably call this "New Era Jordan", but in defference to our long term committed title sponsors Benson and Hedges, I think "Better and Harder" would be more appropriate!' said Jordan.

'That historic Benson and Hedges Jordan 1-2 at Spa last August was more than an emotional moment; it was proof that Jordan Grand Prix as a unit was capable of performing at the highest level. Our sustained performance in the second half of the season, which saw Jordan become the first new name in the Championship top four since 1989, was further confirmation.'

'The unit you see here today, comprising car constructor, engine manufacturer, drivers and sponsors, is Better and Harder in every respect; motivation, dedication, innovation and quality.'

'A year ago I welcomed Damon Hill to the team citing that his experience of winning was one of the crucial missing factors in Jordan"s constitution; it was, and we"ve further recognised that factor with the welcoming of Heinz-Harald Frentzen, who is also a winner at this level.'

The new car, designed by a team of engineers headed up by Chief Designer, Mike Gascoyne, is largely an evolution of the 1998 car, based on controlled performance enhancing changes rather than a radical re-design. The design has involved more time in the Jordan wind tunnel and drawing office than in previous years, allowing the improvements made throughout 1998 to be incorporated.

The new Jordan Mugen-Honda will begin testing at Silverstone on Wednesday 3rd February, with Damon Hill at the wheel.

-- Stephen M Baines

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