Jordan take Heidfeld option

Motor Sport News: Jordan have taken an option on the services of Nick Heidfeld, with the former Sauber driver set to drive for the Irish team when it resumes testing at Jerez next Tuesday.

"Nick is a prime candidate for a revitalised Jordan Grand Prix next year and we are anxious for him to start getting to know the team at this stage," said team owner Eddie Jordan. "It is an important test as we have got a lot of new components to try as well as tyre testing for Bridgestone."

Heidfeld's presence at next week's first test of the winter for Jordan does not mean that the German will definitely race for the Irish squad next season.

The fact that Jordan have merely said they have taken an "option" on the driver suggests the financially struggling team remain open to offers from others.

Those other contenders include Dutchman Jos Verstappen, who is still waiting to see if Jaguar will offer him a seat alongside Mark Webber, with Jordan being his preferred fallback position, and Heinz Harald Frentzen, Heidfeld's team-mate at Sauber last season.

Frentzen was, along with Heidfeld, ditched by the Swiss team at the end of last season in favour of a pairing of Giancarlo Fisichella and Felipe Massa, but this week said Jordan had offered him another stint at the team for which he drove between 1999 and 2001.

Jordan will run two drivers at the Spanish circuit next week with Heidfeld being joined by Czech driver Jarek Janis, who will race in the International F3000 series next season.

Ralph Firman will not take part in next week's test. The Anglo-Irish driver still has two years to run on his contract but it is well known that he will have to source significant sponsorship to hold on to the drive.

WEEKEND FIXTURES

TONIGHT: Border Rally Championship prize giving, Hotel Kilmore, Cavan,7.30 p.m.

SUNDAY: Carlow CC, Rallysprint, Mondello Park, 10.30 a.m.

MONDAY: Motorsport Ireland/Alfa Romeo Awards for Excellence in Irish Motorsport, Conrad Hotel, Dublin, 12 noon.