Jordan Offered Three Year Cosworth Deal

Definite offer
By Phil Giles
August 16 2002

Niki Lauda has offered Jordan a supply of Cosworth engines for 2003. The offer was made by Lauda in response to uncertainty surrounding the Arrows Formula One team who have failed to turn up to race in Hungary.

Lauda says that Arrows have not paid the latest instalment of their bill for the engines.

"Cosworth, because of the Arrows situation, made (Jordan) an offer for Cosworth engines for a three-year contract.  Now it's up to Eddie to decide between Honda and Cosworth." Said Lauda.

"If he wants to dump his engine and go into the Cosworth engine or not, it's up to him. He has a proposal from Cosworth for a three-year engine deal."

Speaking earlier today to Sky's F1 Digital Plus service, Eddie Jordan said that Honda were making good progress with the engines.  He insisted that he has another years contract with Honda and as far as he is concerned, that's who will be supplying the power next year.   Speculation about next years engine supply was (until today) never confirmed by either Cosworth or Jordan.  In fact, a few weeks ago, Cosworth denied that they had struck a deal. 

BBC Sport feel that Jordan will be asked to pay for their Honda Engines next year.  John Watson asked Eddie if this was the case.  Eddie's reply was that "We're in the business of receiving, not giving away!"  The point here therefore is that Jordan's current contract with Honda will stay in effect and Jordan will not be paying for his engines.

Jordan do now have an option if Honda take their contract away.  Given that Arrows receive the same spec engine as Jaguar, it would be interesting to see what the EJ13 could do with the engine as the A23 has done wonders.