Jordan launches powerboat project.

Following on from its maiden victory in the wet at Spa-Francorchamps in 1998, and a front-row qualifying position at last year's British GP, Jordan has decided to set sail for further success on the ocean waves.

The grand prix team is set to take to the sea this year after announcing its decision to formally enter the 2001 Honda Formula 4-Stroke series for powerboats. The yellow livery of Jordan's highly-visible Formula One cars will also be seen on the 21-foot Honda-powered sports boat, and the projects title sponsorship will come from the EJ10 High Intensity sports drink which the team plans to launch this year. Co-sponsorship comes from the F1 team's official web-site at www.f1jordan.com.

The move into powerboats follows last July's announcement that Jordan and the Honda Motor Company would form an alliance in Formula One, something that will be formally consummated at the team's 2001 launch on 16 January. In the meantime, today's launch of the EJ10-sponsored boat at the London International Boat Show in Earl's Court, London, is the combination's first public outing, and team owner Eddie Jordan admits to looking forward to following the progress of his new baby.

"When Honda told me about this opportunity, I thought it would be a great way to promote the new EJ10 drink and also underline our reputation for having some fun when away from the Formula One arena," he said.

"It is quite literally a turn-key promotion, as Honda have provided us with a ready-to-race sports boat which our marketing people are going to use to good effect in promoting EJ10. All the back-up and support means that we basically turn up and race. This is a very important year for Jordan-Honda in Formula One, but the powerboat project will provide some light relief away from our goal of fighting for the world championship."

The Jordan boat will compete against at least another 15 identical entries, all powered by Honda's impressive four-stroke BF130 engine in arguably the most successful one-make powerboat series in the world. At the helm for the second year in a row is three-times Class One world champion Steve Curtis, who believes that the series is destined to go from strength to strength.

"The inclusion of the Jordan boat is a further endorsement of the success of this exciting championship," he said, "The Honda Formula 4-Stroke series offers affordable racing in the framework of a highly professional championship. With high profile names like Jordan joining the fray, we are looking forward to another hugely competitive season."

Though Jordan has not yet decided who will crew the boat when it starts the ten-round series in the Spring, the team is planning to invite its Formula One drivers, Heinz-Harald Frentzen and Jarno Trulli, to put it through its paces. Former driver Damon Hill recently tested a Honda-powered boat for a magazine feature, but is thought unlikely to figure in the team's race plans.