Jordan EJ15

Background

Jordan had been left without an engine deal for the 2005 season after the Ford Motor Company's decision to put their engine supplier Cosworth up for sale. However, at short notice, Toyota agreed to supply Jordan with engines identical to those used by their own Formula One team and thus Jordan became the first-ever Toyota F1 customer team and also Magneti Marelli electronic control unit (ECU) packages. At the beginning of 2005, the team was sold to Midland Group for US $60 million.

The Jordan name was retained for the 2005 Formula One season, before being changed to MF1 Racing for the season. Throughout 2005 journalists questioned whether Midland were in Formula One for the long haul. Rumours circulated throughout the season that the team was for sale, and that Eddie Irvine was interested in buying them. The year also saw the introduction of two rookie drivers, Narain Karthikeyan and Tiago Monteiro.

Racing history

Season summary

2005 confirmed Jordan's status at the back of the grid. A final podium came at the United States Grand Prix, in which only six cars competed. Monteiro led home a Jordan 3–4. Monteiro finished eighth at Spa to give the team its final point and used the EJ15 to finish in all but one race of the season. The team's last grand prix saw a low-key exit; Monteiro finished 11th and Karthikeyan crashed out.

EJ15B

Jordan used an updated EJ15B chassis for the final five races of the year. Monteiro gave the B spec chassis its debut in Italy whilst Karthikeyan still had the previous model. For the following race in Belgium, both drivers used EJ15Bs, and they would both see out the remainder of the season with the new chassis, with Monteiro's 8th place at Spa its best result.

After the season

Following the end of the 2005 season, the EJ15B chassis was used in winter testing at Jerez in December 2005 by a variety of drivers including Roman Rusinov, Jeffrey van Hooydonk and Monteiro. This followed the team's rebranding to MF1 Racing, and the car featured an interim testing livery.

Sponsorship and livery

Since 1996, Benson & Hedges was the team's main sponsor and continued through its final year until the team led a serious financial problems. In the countries that had a ban on tobacco advertising, it was replaced with either "Be on Edge" or driver names. At the United States Grand Prix, Benson & Hedges was replaced with Sobranie due to the Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement.

At the Canadian Grand Prix, the "Bring Back Hockey" slogan featured on the airbox as a reaction to the 2004-05 NHL lockout.

Gallery

Image:Monteiro (Jordan) qualifying at USGP 2005.jpg|Tiago Monteiro driving at Indianapolis during the 2005 United States Grand Prix. Image:Karthikeyan (Jordan) locking brakes in qualifying at USGP 2005.jpg|Narain Karthikeyan locking his brakes during qualifying at the 2005 United States Grand Prix. File:Karthikeyan (Jordan) qualifying at USGP 2005.jpg|Narain Karthikeyan during qualifying at the 2005 United States Grand Prix. File:Tiago Monteiro 2005 Canada.jpg|Tiago Monteiro qualifying at the 2005 Canadian Grand Prix.

Complete Formula One results

(key) (results in bold indicate pole position)

References

References

1. Hamilton, Maurice. (2004). "[[Autocourse]] 2004-2005". Hazleton Publishing.
2. Ménard, Pierre. (2006). "The Great Encyclopedia of Formula 1". Chronosports Editeur.
3. (2004). "The Official Formula 1 Season Review 2004". Haynes Publishing.
4. (2004). "Formula 1 Yearbook 2004-2005". Chronosports Editeur.
5. F1, STATS. "Jordan EJ15 • STATS F1".
6. statsf1.com/en/moteur-toyota.aspx
7. "Formula 1™ - the Official F1™ Website".
8. "Formula 1™ - the Official F1™ Website".
9. "US".
10. F1, STATS. "Jordan EJ15B • STATS F1".