Sport

Jordan Peugeot aiming to stop breakdowns in races

EDDIE JORDAN won the race to launch the first of the 1996 Grand Prix contenders, with yesterday's unveiling of the Jordan Peugeot…

By MARTIN MCCARTHY
Fri Jan 19 1996 - 00:00

EDDIE JORDAN won the race to launch the first of the 1996 Grand Prix contenders, with yesterday's unveiling of the Jordan Peugeot 196 at the Lisbon suburb of Estoril.

Rubens Barrichello and Martin Brundle are to drive the Gary Anderson designed car which is powered by the latest EV4 version of Peugeot's V-10.

Eddie Jordan explained their hopes for the 1996 car I don't want to put too much pressure on ourselves, but it goes without saying that we want to progress from last year when we had our best ever result (2nd place in Canada)."

Peugeot have increased their involvement and have replaced Grand Prix winner Jean Pierre Jabouille with long time Peugeot employee, Pierre Michel Faulconnier, as the boss of the Formula One programme. Our main aim this year is not to have breakdowns during the race," Faulconnier said Faulconnier was pulling no punches as regards the need for results from their £10 million programme which is entering its second year with Jordan It is absolutely important that we show progress. At the end of the season we want to be very close to the top three teams." Peugeot's contract with Jordan is initially until the end of 1997.

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The new Jordan is built to new regulations which will make the cars safer and give lower down force as Gary Anderson explained. This year the cockpit sides are a lot higher to protect the driver from a side impact.

The location of the wings and other aerodynamic aids have been altered to reduce down force and that's why we've gone for the high nose. Last year's car was very hard to set up right. It went great when it was but it was so hard to do in the time allowed. The 1961 hope will give us a much wider operating band."

The former McLaren and Benetton driver, Martin Brundle, drove the car yesterday afternoon. Like Barrichello he will not be using the left foot braking which Eddie Irvine was so fond of Brundle's left foot was damaged in an accident.

Interestingly the green and white Jordan 196 has no Ireland logo, no shamrock and no Marlboro sponsorship We are in discussion with a number of parties about sponsorship for the season," said Eddie Jordan.

The team are in discussion with Marlboro and the Irish Government and announcements are expected before the first race in Melbourne on March 10th.