Jordan Sign Nakano As Test Driver.
Jordan has signed Minardi refugee Shinji Nakano to act as test driver in 1999, with obvious thought to the future.
The signing is thought to be beneficial to the team on two fronts. Firstly, the Japanese driver is known to have access to a sizeable sponsorship budget - something which would have guaranteed his place in the Minardi team for 1999 had his management been able to hammer out a deal with the Italians. Secondly, Nakano's nationality ties him in with Honda, which Jordan is trying to woo for next season after its arrangement with Mugen expires.
Jordan has signed Minardi refugee Shinji Nakano to act as test driver in 1999, with obvious thought to the future.
The signing is thought to be beneficial to the team on two fronts. Firstly, the Japanese driver is known to have access to a sizeable sponsorship budget - something which would have guaranteed his place in the Minardi team for 1999 had his management been able to hammer out a deal with the Italians. Secondly, Nakano's nationality ties him in with Honda, which Jordan is trying to woo for next season after its arrangement with Mugen expires.
The announcement of the deal was made before qualifying in Melbourne, with Eddie Jordan quick to sing the praises of his new charge: "With limited testing opportunities, it is important that Damon [Hill] and Heinz-Harald [Frentzen] are supported by an experienced driver," Jordan said, "Shinji has had two F1 race seasons, and a wealth of Mugen-Honda working experience which will be of all-round benefit to the team."
