Kiesa gets third Jordan at Hockenheim

Jordan has announced that Nicolas Kiesa will take the third driver role during the Friday practice sessions at this weekend's German Grand Prix. Kiesa formerly raced for Minardi and also drove the Faenza squad's two-seater cars, as well as testing for the team over the winter. He replaces Robert Doornbos, who has moved to Minardi to take over Patrick Friesacher's race seat.

Nicolas Kiesa.

Photo by Minardi Formula 1.

"I am very excited about the opportunity to drive for Jordan Grand Prix," said Kiesa. "I want to do a good job for the team and help them with their preparation and data gathering. I am really looking forward to this experience and I cannot wait to drive the car on Friday in Hockenheim."

Jordan's managing director Colin Kolles commented: "I'm pleased to give Nicolas Kiesa this well-deserved opportunity. He has proven himself to be a talented and consistent driver in the junior categories, as well as at the F1 level."

"We're looking forward to working with him this weekend, when we will also discuss our longer-term position. I would also like to thank Robert Doornbos for the work he has done for Jordan as our Friday test driver and wish him well in his career."

27 year-old Dane Kiesa competed in British and German F3 and the F3000 championship before joining Minardi for the last five races of 2003. He was in line for one of the Minardi race seats this season but couldn't find the finances so the place went to Friesacher, who is now replaced by Doornbos.

Whether Kiesa will stay in the third Jordan beyond this weekend is yet to be seen but speculation has it that former Minardi racer Zsolt Baumgartner and Friesacher are under consideration for future GP weekends. They may as well put all the Minardi and Jordan drivers into a hat and pick them at random. A big hat, obviously.