Like engine partner Honda, the Jordan team was given a major boost by finally breaking its drought in Austria, and sees next weekend’s Monaco Grand Prix as an opportunity to continue its momentum.
Giancarlo Fisichella drove a composed race at Zeltweg to finish fifth, earning the squad two points and bringing it much relief after the staff cuts and niggling reliability concerns.
‘Scoring points makes a difference to us, as it does with any team,’ said Engineering Chief Gary Anderson.
‘We really needed to get off the mark somewhere, and it’s been extremely difficult. With the strength of Ferrari and Williams, regularly taking the top four points places, the rest of us have to dive together to try and score the last two positions. Giancarlo’s result in Austria has given us a lot of encouragement, as now we know that on a good day we can achieve something, and that gives us something to build on.
Jordan has a good record at Monaco with points finishes in ‘94, ‘97, and ‘99, while Fisichella has an excellent record, with top six finishes in 1997 (when he was with Jordan in his previous stint), a podium in ’98, fifth in ’99 and another podium in 2000.
‘I have some wonderful memories tied to this great circuit, including my Italian Formula 3 Championship victory here in 1994 and also some satisfying performances in Formula One, for example second place in 2000,’ said the rapid Italian.
‘The circuit is difficult and elaborate, but it is also fun. The atmosphere is always charming, with the people who come here and the city itself, with its location on the harbour, and all the boats that surround it.’
Rookie team-mate Takuma Sato, having recovered from his massive crash in Austria, does not know Monaco but will be able to get used to the unique street layout in the historic Grand Prix this weekend in a classic Lotus 49.
‘It has already been a few days since the big impact at the A1-ring and the pain has been going gradually from my knee and leg so I am glad to be able to come back and race,’ said the 25-year-old. ‘I am also really looking forward to the Monaco Historic race. It is such a historic car and city that it will be a very impressive weekend.
‘I greatly appreciate all the sponsors who have given me the opportunity to do it. I have put the Austrian accident behind me now and it will not affect my performance in Monaco at all.’
Anderson added that reliability was a particularly important factor for Jordan to get right especially for Monaco.
‘Reliability is something to which we are continually devoting effort,’ he said. ‘Each day that you run the car, there’s something new to learn but, encouragingly at this point in time, there are no specific problems that we need to cross our fingers about.’
