Eddie Jordan dying: Former F1 group proprietor dies aged 76

Former group proprietor has handed away on the age of 76 after a year-long battle with most cancers.

Jordan that he had skilled some “very darkish days” after being recognized with “aggressive” bladder and prostate most cancers final spring, which unfold to his backbone and pelvis.

The previous group proprietor and pundit, who ran the Jordan Grand Prix group from 1991 to 2005 and was a pundit on BBC’s protection of Method 1, spent the winter in and insisted final month that his chemotherapy was in “fine condition.”

However an announcement from his household introduced the Irishman had handed away earlier on Thursday in South Africa. The assertion learn: “It’s with profound unhappiness that we announce the passing of OBE, the ex-Method 1 group proprietor, TV pundit and entrepreneur.

“He handed away peacefully with household by his aspect in Cape City within the early hours of 20 March 2025.

“EJ introduced an abundance of charisma, power and Irish appeal in every single place he went.

“All of us have an enormous gap lacking with out his presence. He might be missed by so many individuals, however he leaves us with tonnes of nice recollections to maintain us smiling by means of our sorrow.”

Final month, about which had purchased rugby membership out of administration, Jordan turned emotional because the dialog moved on to his spherical of chemotherapy.

“Sorry guys, only a small factor, thanks,” Jordan stated. “I’ve simply come out of getting chemotherapy and I am not 100 per cent collectively right here guys.

“I am simply not myself at this second in time. I am a bit all over, so please forgive me. I simply had a giant deal of it [chemotherapy] yesterday so I’m sorry – I’m not fairly myself.”

On his Method For Success podcast with David Coulthard, the place he revealed his prognosis in December, Jordan stated: “It is a little message to everyone listening to this, don’t waste or put it off. Go and get examined, as a result of in life you’ve got possibilities. Go and do it.

“Don’t be silly. Don’t be shy. Take care of your physique, guys.”

Jordan’s co-presenter on the BBC, Jake Humphrey, posted a heartfelt tribute on Thursday, saying on Twitter/X: “Totally devastated. EJ has left us. Method One received’t see the likes of Eddie ever once more the place a man with a love for racing can hustle his manner into the game and find yourself successful races.

“Extra necessary than race wins although, he received hearts. I’ll always remember how his face would at all times gentle up at any time when he noticed a Jordan GP jacket, flag or cap… as we travelled the world collectively years after the group had been bought.

“His unimaginable spirit and love of life lives on in me, and my kids who had been fortunate sufficient to fulfill him and listen to all about him. Eddie lit up a room at any time when he entered it. That could be a lesson for us all – be the sunshine within the room.

“I used to be fortunate sufficient to share one, last, cherished meal with him and his boys a number of months in the past. It was particular. We talked about me doing one final interview with him. Sadly that may by no means occur. As I left his departing phrases had been ‘I really like you brother’. I really like you. Brother. One of many 3 Amigos is gone. The world appears rather less vivid this morning. Farewell pal. Play the spoons up there for me.”

Edmund Patrick Jordan was born in Dublin on 30 March 1948 to folks Eileen and Paddy. After briefly contemplating turning into a priest and resisting household stress to enter dentistry, Jordan took up a six-week accountancy course on the School of Commerce in Dublin the place he started work for the Financial institution of Eire.

However in 1971, his consideration turned to motor racing, and Jordan received the Irish Kart Championship earlier than shifting as much as Method Ford after which Method Three. However after he failed to understand his dream as a driver he arrange Eddie Jordan Racing in 1979, coming into groups in British F3 – the place he employed Martin Brundle and Johnny Herbert – and later Method 3000.

Brundle paid his personal tribute on Thursday, saying: “I am actually unhappy to listen to that Eddie has succumbed to his sickness, this has taken him comparatively rapidly, he was such a personality. We’ll miss him rather a lot. I first raced for Eddie in F3 in 1983, we hardly had a pound between us, and in some way he hustled and acquired the automobile and every thing collectively, and we had a fantastic season, that sums him up.

“There are such a lot of drivers that may wish to thank him, Eddie Irvine, Jean Alesi, many people… Eddie gave us an opportunity in junior racing and promoted us like loopy to get us F1 seats. I used to be fortunate sufficient to drive for him in F1 itself with the Jordan group to shut the circle, like Damon Hill, Ralf Schumacher, Giancarlo Fisichella and Heinz-Harald Frentzen, they got an opportunity by Eddie resulting from his entrepreneurial spirit, and his racer’s mentality, he was one of many greatest characters of F1, irrepressible.

“He got here by means of the junior ranks, he was a driver himself, after which he had some groups in F3, he ended up in F1, he received races, it was such a powerful character to have round, a fantastic sense of humour, after which when he had one thing secret to let you know and he’d whisper it to you, we are going to bear in mind him for that.

“The game might be poorer with out him, what he achieved, what he achieved, what he stood for and what a racer he was.”

After his stint in junior racing, Jordan then based his personal F1 group, Jordan Grand Prix, in 1991 and gave seven-time F1 world champion Michael Schumacher his debut later that 12 months. After one race, Schumacher moved to rivals Benetton, the place the Germa would go on to win his first two titles.

Jordan’s greatest lead to F1 got here in 1998 with a one-two end with Damon Hill and Ralf Schumacher on the Belgian Grand Prix, whereas a 12 months later Heinz-Harald Frentzen completed third on the earth championship – Jordan’s greatest particular person driver end.

But after shedding an engine take care of Honda in 2002, the group struggled financially and Midland Group purchased the group in 2005.

General, Jordan GP entered 250 races in F1, successful 4 grands prix.

Jordan then turned a preferred and visual determine for followers of F1 within the UK as a pundit on BBC’s protection of the game, alongside presenter Humphrey and former F1 driver Coulthard, and was much-loved for his flamboyant and direct punditry type.

In March 2012, Jordan obtained an OBE for providers to charity and motor racing, and most lately, Jordan served as star designer Adrian Newey’s supervisor and negotiated his from Pink Bull to Aston Martin. He additionally led a consortium that purchased London Irish rugby membership earlier this 12 months.

Jordan is survived by his spouse Marie, who he married in 1979, and 4 kids: Zoe, Miki, Zak and Kyle.