Watson recalls the glory days

Despite Jordan Grand Prix's disappointing race in Hungary, the belief that the Irish team owner can win his first grand prix this year is stronger than ever and among those who share that belief is John Watson, who 21 years ago this week became the first Irishman to win a Formula One grand prix.

Watson's epic victory, the first of five in the Belfastman's long career, opened the door for Eddie Jordan and the many other Irish - Eddie Irvine, Derek Daly and Martin Donnelly - who made the journey to the top of motor sport.

Watson was 29 and had cut his teeth at Mondello, Kirkiston, the Phoenix Park and European F2 before graduating to Formula One in 1973. Initially, he drove a Brabham, entered by the London garage Hexagon, but by 1976 he was leading the works F1 effort of American billionaire Roger Penske. By mid-summer, the Ford-powered car was in a position to win, as Oxford based Watson recalls: "The cars were very equal in those days. Everyone used the Ford V8, except Ferrari. The Penske team was in its second season, but returning to Austria was difficult."

Mark Donohue, the American superstar, had been killed driving the Penske in Austria the previous year. Watson won after beating off a challenge from James Hunt, but the celebrations at home were muted. "Unfortunately my grandfather died the night of the race so there were no celebrations at home. People forget that grand prix racing was not televised then and the impact was that much less," says Watson, who now commentates on F1 for ESPN, a US network.

Eddie Jordan's first brush with F1 was in 1979, when Marlboro gave him a test in Watson's McLaren. Jordan recalls the significance of his now close friend's achievement. "When Wattie scored his first grand prix win, I was at home in Dartry with my leg in plaster after a big Formula Ford crash. I was not sure what to do - to go back racing or return to golf. His win showed an Irishman could get to the top - that the dream was achievable.

"In later years he introduced me to a lot of people and helped me a lot. Did you know he drove the very first ever Jordan - in 1990?" Jordan will be hoping that a circuit where the team have shown strongly in the past, might at last deliver a result. Andrea DeCesaris was close to winning in 1991 when his team-mate in the Jordan was Michael Schumacher. In '95, Ruebens Barrichello started on pole with Eddie Irvine in fourth place, but his sixth-place finish that year is Jordan's only points finish at the Ardennes racetrack.