San Marino GP Jordan preview

"We've scored points in each of the first three races", commented Eddie Jordan, Chief Executive, "and it's the hard work and commitment of the entire team at Jordan and Honda that has made this possible. We've worked hard with Honda over the last few weeks to resolve some of the early season hitches and feel confident that Jordan will continue to be a strong challenger to the top teams".

This season sees thirteen new faces in the core Race Team with nine of these contributing to the twenty six man pit stop crew. The pressures faced in the first three races reaffirms that teamwork is a key factor in the team's success and the cornerstone of the strong camaraderie among the entire workforce. The four new recruits include two Race Engineers, Frentzen's Data Engineer and one of the T-car Mechanics. Six personnel have moved to the Race Team from the Test Team, joined by three further staff who were previously factory based.

"The race team saw quite a large change in personnel for this season, mainly due to some of the workforce transferring to the enlarged Test Team and the increased number of new staff joining Jordan as the company grows," explains Jim Vale, Race Team Manager. "Everybody has gelled together exceptionally well and we are very pleased with how working practices are shaping up and the team's morale has become more positive. The last two races in particular have demonstrated the pressures that the team can be subject to and the teamwork required, when there are sudden downpours and the cars come in to pit back to back for example. This team effort was further displayed in Brazil when two engines needed to be changed in a tight time schedule before qualifying."

The Return Of The Motorhomes
The colourful array of impressive new team motorhomes to be displayed in the F1 paddock this coming weekend signifies the start of the European races. Benson and Hedges Jordan Honda is looking forward to welcoming media and guests into its new and state of the art, two story hospitality unit, designed to reflect the new works team status. The mobile unit is sponsored by Deutsche Post and features a media and marketing suite, physiotherapy room, management offices and sponsor lounge. A second structure joined the to main motorhome includes hospitality seating for over forty guests, with an upstairs terrace and 42 inch plasma screen for uncompromised viewing.

Jarno Trulli Clocks Up The Miles
In between the Brazilian and San Marino Grands Prix, Jarno Trulli has an action filled schedule. From Brazil, he flew home to Monaco for one day before arriving at Silverstone on Tuesday morning for a three day test. Over the weekend Trulli was able to spend time in Italy with his family while concentrating on training, but now it's back to work with PR activities arranged for Tuesday 10th. He flies to Kent on Tuesday evening ready for an early start on Wednesday morning when the Italian will make a star appearance on the 0915 P&O Stena Line ferry return crossing from Dover to Calais.

Due to board the ferry at 0840, prior to departure Trulli will meet the Captain on the bridge before taking part in a photo session with the Benson and Hedges Jordan Honda car outside the Silverstones Sports Bar on board, where the Italian will be making his main appearance from 0915.

Trulli will be available to sign autographs, talk about the team and the season so far during the outbound and return crossings. Other activities include a Pit Stop Challenge for the public, with the Formula 1 star presenting a prize to the winners.

Once docked in Calais, Trulli will visit the ferry's engine room and have lunch aboard, before departing at 1130 for the return crossing back to Dover where he will again be available for fans to see in the Silverstones Sports Bar.

Trulli's busy schedule then sees him fly to Bologne on Wednesday evening for a Drivers' football match, before driving to Imola for a good night's sleep to be ready for a day of interviews at the track on Thursday.

Heinz-Harald Frentzen:
"It's good to go to San Marino as it's the start of the European season which is good for the teams and drivers. Italy, the tifosi and the circuit always remind me of my first win in 1997. This track is a roller-coaster ride for the drivers but it has special flair."

Jarno Trulli:
"Everyone assumes that Imola is my home race, which is true because I am Italian, but I haven't actually raced in Italy very much. I feel good about going to Imola. My supporters in Italy are hoping for a good result and I would like to give them that."

Trevor Foster, Managing Director:
"Bad fortune has caused San Marino to traditionally be one of the less successful races for Jordan. We have been in some good point scoring positions in the past at Imola, but the cars have unfortunately not crossed the finish line. This race is therefore very important for us to rid ourselves of this tradition."

Testing information
On returning from Brazil, the team's third driver, Ricardo Zonta, commenced a three day test at Silverstone on Tuesday. Joined by Jarno Trulli on Wednesday afternoon, the team's plan was to run an extensive tyre test, although heavy rain for all three days hindered the team from making any significant steps in this programme. Efforts were transferred to traction control software developments for one day, and although not able to carry out the tasks originally scheduled, the team still came away with some useful data analysis and software developments.

Circuit information
Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari
Circuit Length: 4.933 km
Race distance: 62 laps, 305.609 km

After three fly away races, the teams look forward to returning to Europe and Imola for the San Marino Grand Prix. This is a welcome relief as teams are able to use their own trucks and motorhomes, rather than working out of freight cases and make-shift offices. Imola isn't actually in San Marino, but just over the border in Italy about 25 miles south-east of Bologne. Imola is the only circuit, other than Brazil, to run in an anti-clockwise direction. Opened in 1952, the then fast track underwent revisions following the race in May 1994 when Ayrton Senna and Roland Ratzenberger tragically died. The fast corners have been slowed by chicanes, making this circuit heavy on braking with good acceleration power needed out from the many second gear corners. Imola is therefore one of the higher downforce circuits, with the track gradients making it a race for the fittest.

- Jordan