Jordan suffer Honda setback

Honda's Formula One chief yesterday ruled out any prospect of the Jordan team being supplied with its engines next year.

Speculation has been circulating for some time that Jordan, the only front runner not to have a works engine deal through a motor manufacturer, could in 2001 be supplied with this year's Honda powerplant which is currently in use by British American Racing.

But yesterday, as the teams began preparations at the Nurburgring for tomorrow's European Grand Prix, Takefumi Hosaka, managing director of research and development at Honda, said that Jordan would continue to use the engine developed by Mugen, the former motorsport arm of the Japanese motor company.

"This year we are supplying an engine through Mugen to Jordan and we also have a close relationship with BAR. We are going to maintain the current situation next year as well. Jordan will use the engine supplied to Mugen by us," he said. "We are not going to work directly with Jordan and they will use the Mugen engine."

The news will come as a blow to Jordan. Outwardly, the team has always maintained it is pleased to maintain its relationship with Hirotoshi Honda's Mugen organisation but the current engine incarnation, although powerful, is some 20 kgs heavier than its Honda rival and many have suggested that it is only the aerodynamic prowess of designer Mike Gascoyne that has kept the team in the chase to challenge McLaren and Ferrari.

Gascoyne, however, is to depart the team for Benetton midway through next season and the prospect of matching next year's Mugen with a chassis designed by a departing designer will not appeal.

Yesterday, on track, Jordan drivers Heinz-Harald Frentzen and Jarno Trulli battled both the changeable weather and, early on, chronic under-steer which affected their performances.

With Frentzen third and Trulli fourth in the morning session, despite only running a handful of laps each, the team appeared to be carrying on the good work of last year, when Frentzen took pole position and led the race until electrical problems forced him to retire.

In the afternoon though, running different fuel loads and on a drier track, the picture changed with Trulli seventh and Frentzen a lowly 15th. Neither driver was displeased with their performances however, with the Frentzen only completing 18 laps over both sessions and Trulli only 21 in a bid to save tyres for the weekend.

"I feel we're much more competitive here than in Barcelona," said Trulli. "We did a good job today and solved a problem which I had with under-steer in the morning. By the afternoon session we had found a good balance." Frentzen, too, admitted it had been a run of the mill Friday and that he was happy with his progress ahead of today's qualifying session. "We did our homework to find a good race set-up," he said. "The track was a little wet to start with but dried out later and was probably good practice since it might well rain on Sunday."

Both Jordan drivers will need that homework to be effective if the team is to maintain its challenge for third place in the constructors' championship.

The Silverstone-based outfit has been eclipsed in recent races by Williams, who are now six points clear of Eddie Jordan's team, and are also nervously looking over their shoulders at BAR, for whom Jacques Villeneuve has been particularly impressive.

Yesterday, both Jordans were beaten by Ralf Schumacher, who guided his Williams FW22 to sixth place despite only completing 14 laps, and also by rookie Williams driver Jenson Button who ended the second session fastest, despite never having driven at the Nurburgring before.

"I thought we were going to be close to the front, but it comes as quite a surprise to be at the very top," he smiled. "But, I don't want to get too excited as it's not qualifying. A lot is going to change though I'll admit it would be nice to be among the top few again tomorrow."