Jordan get rid of Sato ...

LizardKing

I'd say Irvine will be with Jordan next season....

Text below


Irish-owned Formula One team Jordan has ended its contract with Japanese driver Takuma Sato after his poor performance as the team's second driver this year.

Sato will go on to join British-American Racing as a test driver. His move is likely to spark fresh speculation about the possibility of Irish driver Eddie Irvine returning to his former team for the 2003 season.

Lucutus

Whatever about a possible Irvine returning move to Jordan...

Sato is gone. \o/ Maybe we'll see more yellow crossing the finish line next season.

Luc

Makaveli

I heard rumours of nigel mansell making a return. :eek:

OSiriS

Nah Nigel won't see the seat of an F1 car again, he wants to come back part time in an advisory position. Theres a good chance it will be Irvine, because B&H have been offering to increase their sponsorship if they get a "british" driver in.

LizardKing

According to one of the Sunday Papers , Eddie Jordans gonna go with Youth again and Irvine may not get a drive next season...

We'll see though

Rolo Tomasi

I'm glad that Sato is gone, he has potential but at this stage Jordan really needs points not potential. Also there was no reason to keep him, no Honda engines ,no japanese drivers.

Kalina

Originally posted by Lucutus
Whatever about a possible Irvine returning move to Jordan...

Sato is gone. \o/ Maybe we'll see more yellow crossing the finish line next season.

... and less yellow carnage buried in a tyre barrier!!

I hope Irvine gets the drive, he's a good character and unlike Sato he knows how to drive the car.

EJ should have kept Alesi last year and signed Button, McNish or Webber this year.

mike65

Joss Verstappen anyone?

Mike.

fisifan01

Unlike most others i think it is a great shame that jordan dropped sato. sure he did crash an awful lot. but people overlooked his fantastic overtaking perfromances in monaco and brazil. he drove brilliantly in suzuka to claim 5th place on front of his home crowd. people tend to forget that the jump from F3 to F1 is immense. he also had fisichella as a benchmark who in my opinion is one of the most talented drivers in the pitlane. Sato outqualified giancarlo 4 times last season Button had outqualifed him the same amount of times last season at bennetton/renault. Mind you takuma didnt make the headlines of the sport section everytime he did so. Hopefully in the future sato will get a drive elsewhere where his talented can be properly expressed. Jordan went through a difficult period last year. but next year they will be back.

LizardKing

From the Examiner

Jordan 'close to signing' Philippe Masse
09/01/2003 - 5:06:05 pm

Jordan Formula One team is believed to be close to signing driver Philippe Masse for the coming season.

The Brazilian would join Giancarlo Fisichella in the Jordan camp. The team has already insisted that it will not name its main sponsor or second driver until testing begins on the new EJ-13 car later this month.

wolfman

Jordan are f***ed!!

They have plummeted over the last few years. It kills me, but Eddie almost had it sussed a few years ago but since that it's all gone downhill.

Pity really

Imagine what it would have done for Ireland if Eddie got up there with the best of em

wolfman

Originally posted by RicardoSmith
Doesn't matter how fast he is if he doesn't finish the race though.

That's what it is all about in Formula 1 these days. Being fast and overtaking means absolutely NOTHING if you can't clock up the points

dmeehan

if EJ doesnt take on eddie irvine, who is he going to get?
are there any rumours about this out there? someone with plenty of cash to spare

LegacyUser

If eddie Jordan gets the backing from "Gallagher" cigarettes then eddie Irvine has got the drive. But personnally i feel irvine himself already knows that he has the odds against him with his past form.
my tip for the new jordan driver is Phillipe Massa
And i recon Eddie jordan will secure sponsorship from a non tobaco related source.
we wont know till late this week or early next!


:cool: :cool: :cool:

Washout

looks like it will be Phillipe Massa as the presds have been reporting

dessied

someone gives him a lift home coz he wont make it otherwise

Karma

With the car being launched/tested in public tomorrow, we may see a second driver sitting in the 2nd car?
Me personally, I would have liked if Sato was kept on but hsi contract is also with Honda, so he was not likely to stay anyway.
Would like to see Hakkinen come out of his retirement and join a relaxed team like jordan, not likely though. Eddie Irvine Won't be offered a position in Jordan due to conflict with current staff, as mentioned by EJ before.
I belive EJ will bring back an old face to F1. (Jordan should never have fired HHF)

DotC

LizardKing

Not looking good for the Jordan fans who want Irvine to drive

Story Here

and

More here ..

Money troubles mean cheapo driver ...

mike65

Massa has signed in all but name...
http://uk.sports.yahoo.com/030129/80/dowjc.html

Mike.

LizardKing

FROM Irish Independent ...

Firman to take second drive at Jordan - report
Last updated: 03-02-03, 11:38

Jordan hope to announce their second driver this week with Ralph Firman moving into pole position for the job.

It was reported this morning that Firman, the 27-year-old Formula Nippon champion, would meet Eddie Jordan today to sign a contract to race alongside Italian Giancarlo Fisichella.

Firman has tested with McLaren and BAR after winning the 1996 Autosport young driver of the year award.

Firman and Brazilian Felipe Massa have been leading Jordan's shortlist to replace Japan's Takuma Sato, now the BAR test driver.

The Brazilian former Sauber driver, dropped by the Swiss team to make way for Germany's Heinz-Harald Frentzen, had been considered the favourite due to his experience and financial backing.

Jordan have made clear that whoever gets the drive must bring substantial sponsorship with him.

But a report in the Guardian newspaper today said it appeared that the anticipated funds had not materialised to secure Massa the deal and Firman was set to get the drive.



© 2003 ireland.com