The EJ11 launch

It is rumoured that the new car will make its debut during a one day secret shakedown on Saturday January 19th at Silverstone. It is then expected to go through it’s first official test, also at Silverstone, from Tuesday 22nd to Thursday 24th January, with both Giancarlo Fisichella and Takuma Sato attending. This is much the same arrangement as last year, with the launch coming in between the two tests.

News from the factory is that the team are on target to complete the building of the EJ12, "Everything is functioning well and we are on schedule," a Jordan spokesperson said.

Jordan are currently down to attend test sessions prior to this, so it is likely they will be on the track with a hybrid car – an EJ11 with 2002 parts, possible the new Honda engine or at least the new engine management system.

Whilst work continues on the EJ12 chassis, engine supplier Honda have also been busy and reports suggest that the Japanese motor company are well advanced with an all new V10 engine for the 2002 season. No comments have been available from the Jordan pit yet on it’s performance but Olivier Panis has said he believes it could be as good as the BMW, the most powerful on the 2001 grid. "“I can't wait for the new Honda engine, which is not an evolution but a totally new unit," he commented.