Eddie Jordan has announced that Heinz-Harald Frentzen will replace Ralf Schumacher at the Jordan team next season. Frentzen (32) will thus partner Damon Hill, who earned the Jordan team their first grand prix win at the recent Belgian Grand Prix.
Jordan said: "Obviously I am delighted Damon will be with us for what we both believe will be a realistic opportunity for him to add a second world title to his 22 grand prix victories.
"This is without doubt our strongest-ever driver pairing and while we still have plenty to achieve in 1998, I am already looking forward to 1999."
The deal is a direct swap of drivers between Williams and Jordan and means the team have two proven grand prix winners - Frentzen won at Imola in 1997 - in the cockpit for the first time.
The way was cleared for Schumacher to finally link up with Williams after Formula One ringmaster Bernie Ecclestone brokered an agreement between Jordan and the German driver.
Although no details of the settlement have been released, it is likely include a payment to Jordan who was prepared to go to the High Court this week to try and stop Schumacher leaving.
Jordan has also announced that Trevor Foster, previously Jordan's race team director, has been appointed joint managing director. He will be responsible for all matters relating to the company with the exception of the financial and commercial areas.
Jordan are also expected to accept the resignation of technical director Gary Anderson from the team after eight years at the engineering helm of the team.
Anderson's departure will be a source of disappointment to many Irish fans who have credited him with much of the success of the team. His ability to produce excellent cars on a small budget in Formula One terms, has been a major contributor to Jordan's survival and eventual success.
Anderson left school at 16 and worked as a mechanic in Bernie Ecclestone's Brabham Formula One team before becoming a race driver and race car constructor. He closed his F3 team, Anson, after two years to engineer in Indycars. In 1990 he was chief designer at Reynards - the winning F3000 constructor when Eddie Jordan hired him to design the Dubliner's new F1 car. Anderson's first F1 car was a outstanding success and subsequent cars have proven as good as their engine and development budget would allow.
With the 198 he has crowned his career at Jordan with a longed for first Grand Prix win. Anderson's technical genius is married to a tremendous work ethic but Eddie Jordan has been unhappy with the delegation level in a technical department that has expanded from seven in 1991 to 50 today.
