Zonta to race for Jordan until the end of 2001?

Ricardo Zonta's manager Geraldo Rodrigues has confirmed that the Brazilian's appearance at this weekend's German GP will not be a one-off and that the former BAR driver has a contract to race with Jordan until the end of 2001.

Zonta who yesterday got the call up to race for Jordan Grand Prix after Heinz-Harald Frentzen was sacked has made only one race appearance so far this year - standing in for Frentzen at the Canadian GP when the German was unwell.

Rodrigues said: "I cannot talk about the contract but Ricardo will replace Frentzen from now until the end of the season and if he does okay he would love to race next year. Jordan obviously believe he has done a good job in testing and maybe they feel he can do a better job than Frentzen. They started talking a couple of weeks ago, and they were asking us to be ready. We were told Wednesday morning. We were just asked to replace Heinz and we did not ask any more - that is an internal problem for them."

He added: "My feeling is that they (Jordan) have been trying to help him (Frentzen) become quicker in the races. They did not just kick him out, but I do not know what happened in the end."

"Formula 1 is a tough business, and there is a lot of pressure," continued Rodrigues. "We are not expecting to get pole position or anything like that. He will just try and get points. He wants to drive as much as possible. But he has never had a chance to have a fast test. He had a half-day in Monza but normally he has to run a heavy car so I don't think he has to be quicker than Trulli because Trulli is in very good shape."