Former Jordan Grand Prix team boss and Formula 1 pundit Eddie Jordan has died at 76 after a battle with cancer.
Given his impact at the very pinnacle of motorsport, his affiliation with motor racing began relatively late in life, at 22, when he began a self-funded journey through the Irish karting circuit before progressing to junior Formula racing. Ever an entrepreneur at heart, he founded his own marque, aptly named Eddie Jordan Racing, to compete in British Formula 3 and later Formula 3000, Formula 2’s predecessor. This period saw Jordan employ Johnny Herbert, Jean Alesi, Eddie Irvine and close friend Martin Brundle with whom he would share the BBC studio with in the future. A 1989 championship win with Alesi was enough assurance for Jordan to take the plunge into Formula 1, starting in 1991 with the creation of Jordan Grand Prix.
Jordan were the sport’s lovable underdogs throughout the 1990s and produced some of the most memorable moments in their time. From Michael Schumacher’s F1 debut as a substitute driver, to the 1-2 finish in Spa in 1998, and Heinz-Harald Frentzen’s heroic title charge battling with the giants of McLaren and Ferrari. Jordan’s teams were true privateer outfits, owned solely by the man himself. The revenue was far from matching that of their competitors, but the dedication and tenacity of the man made their achievements possible.
All good things come to an end and after a period of financial difficulties, Jordan sold his creation for a handsome $60m in 2005. From there he pivoted to punditry, first with the BBC and then Channel 4, where his unique perspective and unfiltered insights added a refreshing dimension to F1 Coverage. This was far from all that kept him busy in his post-team principal days, however; he also served as record-breaking designer Adrian Newey’s manager, owned a stake in Celtic FC, circumnavigated the Earth by yacht in 2015 and even at one point hosted Top Gear.
Jordan is survived by his wife Marie and will be sorely missed by all lovers of motorsport and more.
“Eddie Jordan 2017 United States GP” by Curt Smith from Bellevue, WA, USA is licensed under CC BY 2.0.