Jordan still powered by Ford?

RS2 in 2004
By Phil Giles
October 27 2003

Does the media really want to kill off another F1 team or are they just clutching at straws? Recent media reports say that Jordan was at deaths door after Suzuka and now they say that Jordan do not have a powerplant for 2004.

The People newspaper says there is no engine deal for 2004, despite a three year contract with Ford.  Autosport quoted Eddie in an interview for the last issue:  "I just hate the fact that we were led to believe the engines would be priced at £6.95million or less.  It's frustrating because we agreed a figure and then it changes by the time the contracts were drawn up. As regards Ford and the deal they came to us with, it's more than the £6.95 million. They wanted to use the Jordan name and have space on the car but I'm afraid we don't just give space away for free."  This quote was used by www.gp2003.com.

Eddie would appear to have been misquoted as Planet F1.com suggests that Eddie was talking about Daimler Chrysler (Mercedes' parent company).  Mercedes were to offer F1 engines for $10million (approx £6m) however the figure that has been quoted by Daimler is in excess of that figure and would be out of Jordan's reach.

Reading back through the Jordan archives, Jordan have a three year deal with Ford.  They are to receive the R2 Cosworth engine in 2004.

The story from the official Jordan website dated 27 September 2002 says:

In a statement issued today in Indianapolis Ford Motor Company confirmed that it will be providing Jordan Grand Prix with Ford Cosworth RS engines from 2003 onwards.  The three year agreement between Jordan, Ford and Cosworth Racing was heralded by Richard Parry-Jones, Group Vice President of Ford Motor Company, as being an important opportunity to market the famous Ford Cosworth brand at a time when Ford of Europe is re-introducing Ford Cosworth RS road cars into its product line-up.

The primary purpose of Ford Motor Company's announcement was to re-affirm its commitment to Formula One with Jaguar Racing, ending recent press speculation about the future of the Ford-owned team.  Concerning the Ford Cosworth association with Jordan, Parry-Jones said : "With the return of Ford Cosworth RS road cars to Ford of Europe's line up, now is an excellent time to remind people of the advantages of being powered by Ford Cosworth engines."

He went on to confirm that the famous Ford Blue Oval Badge will be seen on next year's Jordan Fords.

"We are excited by this opportunity to use Formula One to link the legendary Ford Cosworth heritage with the Ford of Europe brand message," said Martin leach, President and COO of Ford of Europe.  "We're also taking the obvious opportunity to link the Formula One platform to our plans to re-introduce the Cosworth brand to our road car line up and create even most cost effective means of leveraging the tremendous marketing clout of Formula One."

The Ford Motor Company statement confirmed that Jordan will use a development of the current V10 engine in 2003 with a dedicated team of Cosworth engineers developing the engine further.

Jordan's engine designation will be Ford Cosworth RS1 next season, followed by Ford Cosworth RS2 for 2004.