Eddie Jordan said last night his team would appeal Monday's British High Court ruling that Giancarlo Fisichella should drive for Benetton next year. "We will be serving notice of intent to appeal," said Jordan in his Oxford home. This will delay a final outcome to the case and open the possibility of Benetton and Jordan negotiating a settlement - which may result in Jordan retaining the quick Italian. "Following the notice of appeal it may take some time for a full hearing," said Jordan. It is worth noting that Jordan precipitated the court action, thus keeping the case within the British justice system with which the team is eminently familiar.
Reports linking Damon Hill with Jordan appear to be premature and it now seems more likely that former Jordan driver and new IndyCar champion Alex Zanardi would replace Fisichella should Benetton and Jordan fail to agree a deal.
Meanwhile, the lawyer defending Frank Williams against charges of manslaughter over the death of former world champion Ayrton Senna called for David Coulthard to give his testimony when the trial resumed in Italy today.
Williams, along with his team's technical director Patrick Head, chief designer Adrian Newey and three race officials, are on trial in Imola following the crash at the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix.
The team owner's lawyer, Oreste Dominioni, called for Coulthard, a former Williams driver now with McLaren-Mercedes, because he believes that a statement given by the Scot contradicts one made by Michele Alboreto yesterday over the amount of flexing of the steering wheel.
Alboreto, the Italian ex-Formula One driver who spent 14 years in the sport, told the court that he believed mechanical failure caused the crash.
That has reopened the theory that Senna's modified steering column failed as the three-times world champion took the Tamburello curve.
"On that bend, you don't go off unless there's a mechanical failure," said Alboreto. "Having seen the pictures from Senna's car, I'm even more convinced that it was a technical problem which caused the crash."
The State prosecutor claims that Senna's steering column failed, sending his car into a concrete wall at high speed. The six accused are expected to appear for next week's sessions, which have been pencilled in for September 22nd, 24th and 25th. All six deny the charges, the first to be levelled against a Formula One team.
