Ex-Method 1 group proprietor Eddie Jordan handed away on Thursday in Cape City
A former racer, the Irishman went on to turn out to be the proprietor of one in every of Method 1’s plucky underdogs.
Jordan helped launch the careers of many racers, together with Eddie Irvine and, after all, Michael Schumacher.
One of many sport’s most vibrant and flamboyant characters, right here is Jordan’s life in photos.
Jordan was a eager racer and competed in Method 3 earlier than he broke a leg in an accident at Mallory Park in 1976.
After a short return behind the wheel, he arrange his personal race group after hanging up his helmet, and gave a platform for drivers reminiscent of Martin Brundle and Johnny Herbert within the junior classes reminiscent of Method 3.
Jordan stepped as much as the massive leagues in Method 1 within the 1991 season, in an iconic Irish inexperienced livery.
He employed Andrea de Cesaris and Bertrand Gachot as his drivers for his debut marketing campaign, however a kind of drivers wouldn’t see out the season…
In maybe his most well-known transfer, Jordan handed a Method 1 debut to a promising, but unknown rookie referred to as Michael Schumacher after Gachot was despatched to jail for an altercation with a taxi driver in London mid-season.
Schumacher solely competed in a single race for Jordan, on the 1991 Belgian Grand Prix, earlier than Benetton swooped for the younger driver, however the Irishman had performed a pivotal position for the German who would go on to turn out to be a seven-time world champion.
Jordan Grand Prix signed Northern Eire’s Eddie Irvine and proficient Brazilian Rubens Barrichello for 1994.
Barrichello claimed the group’s first Method 1 podium on the Pacific Grand Prix, however was fortunate to flee along with his life after an accident on the San Marino Grand Prix – a day earlier than the deaths of Roland Ratzenberger and Ayrton Senna in one of many darkest weekends within the sport’s historical past.
Each Barrichello and Irvine picked up podiums the next 12 months because the group continued to rise.
Jordan’s first Grand Prix victory got here on the 1998 Belgian Grand Prix, the place his group not solely secured the win however a one-two end in a chaotic race.
At a rain-hit Spa-Francorchamps, in a race punctuated by crashes and a purple flag, Damon Hill led dwelling team-mate Ralf Schumacher for one of the crucial memorable victories of the last decade.
After their first win, Method 1’s plucky underdogs grew to become unlikely title challengers in 1999.
Heinz-Harald Frentzen scored two podiums within the opening two races to spark a season to recollect for Jordan.
Victories in France and Italy, together with podiums in Germany and Belgium, put the German driver in title rivalry earlier than he fell away within the closing three races of the season.
Frentzen completed third within the drivers’ championship, and Jordan have been third within the constructors’ standings – their finest ever consequence.
In addition to a giant participant in Method 1, Jordan was a eager musician and performed drums in a band.
He would typically be very happy to placed on a present at Method 1 occasions, and he was completely on model right here along with his Jordan colors in 2002.
Jordan’s fourth and last Grand Prix victory got here on the 2003 Brazilian Grand Prix with Giancarlo Fisichella.
It was one other memorable win within the group’s 2 hundredth Grand Prix, however they might not stand on the highest step once more.
After a drop off in ends in 2004, Jordan bought his group to Midland and their last season below the Jordan Grand Prix banner was in 2005.
His group advanced from Jordan to Midland, Spyker after which Pressure India, which finally turn out to be Racing Level and Aston Martin at the moment.
Jordan was as vibrant and outspoken as a TV pundit as he was a group proprietor.
An integral position of the BBC’s Method 1 protection, he was taken for a plunge by Sebastian Vettel on the 2011 Monaco Grand Prix.
He would later have a stint presenting Prime Gear on the BBC, the place his Irish attraction introduced him to a complete new viewers.
Jordan was nonetheless a presence within the Method 1 paddock after hanging up the TV mic.
He performed an influential position as legendary F1 designer Adrian Newey left Crimson Bull for the formidable challenge at Aston Martin – previously Jordan’s F1 group.
Method 1 won’t ever witness a personality fairly like Jordan ever once more.
