Former F1 team boss Eddie Jordan has lost his brave battle with cancer at the age of 76.
A truly remarkable and unique character, he had a huge impact on the sport, having first arrived on the F1 scene in 1991.
He gave Michael Schumacher his debut that year, and Jordan GP finished fifth in the World Championship at its first attempt with the iconic green 191. And yet the team only just made it through the following couple of seasons, so precarious was its financial position.
There were to be many highs and lows, and Jordan would eventually score four GP victories with Damon Hill, Heinz-Harald Frentzen, and Giancarlo Fisichella.
As his financial options ran out Jordan sold the business 20 years ago. He subsequently focussed most of his energies on his media activities before making a surprise return to the limelight last year as manager of Adrian Newey.
The name may have changed a few times, but the current Aston Martin F1 team will be his legacy – also because of his role in getting Newey on board his former team.
It’s good to know that on the day that Newey was announced at Aston EJ visited the new base next to the original Jordan GP site at Silverstone, and was able to see how the team now looks – and he also had an emotional reunion with guys he employed, and who are still working there.
He famously always had an eye for the next deal, but his heart was in the right place, and he was a racer to the core. It’s a pity that Drive to Survive came too late for the world to really get to know him…
He always called me Cooperman, and any encounter was usually a one-sided onslaught of banter and insults designed to entertain everyone within earshot – but you always knew that he had a heart of gold, and to be on the receiving end was actually a compliment.
Aston’s current team boss Andy Cowell said in a statement: “Eddie Jordan was one of the all-time motorsport greats. He was a one-off, a wonderful human being, and a charismatic leader who founded this team and took it to F1 in 1991.
“His vision laid the foundations for us and he leaves a lasting legacy for the entire motorsport community. Today we pay tribute to a legend of the sport and our thoughts are with his family, friends, and colleagues.”
Meanwhile Aston owner Lawrence Stroll added: “Eddie Jordan was a true racer, a great leader, and one of the biggest characters in our sport. He was a friend who I have known for more than thirty years and I will miss him greatly.”
Adam Cooper F1 