ADVERTISEMENT
  • Who are you backing this weekend? #saudiarabia #formula1 #straighttothegrid
  • Highlights from the opening race of the season 🥳 #bahrain #2023 

📸: F1 live feed
  • Just hours away from the first race of the season!! #bahraingp #straighttothegrid #formula1
  • Follow us on TikTok ahead of the 2023 season #straighttothegrid #linkinbio
  • Verstappen has won the final race of 2022 - marking his 15th win of the season #abudhabi
  • George Russell wins the Brazilian Grand Prix in São Paulo 🏆
  • Max Verstappen has been crowned 2022 world champion after winning the Japanese GP 🏆🏁
  • 🏁 Highlights from Monza 🏁
Straight to the grid
ADVERTISEMENT
  • Home
  • News
    • All
    • Driver News
    • Latest
    • Team News
    Red Bull

    Championship Standings: Red Bull running away with early points as Formula 1 heads to Australia for Round Three

    Perez

    Sergio Perez wins Saudi Arabian GP to lead second Red Bull one-two of the season making team history

    Perez

    Qualifying: Perez in pole position after Verstappen’s shock departure

    Red Bull drivers Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez

    FP3 Saudi Arabia: Red Bull domination continues with one-two to finish practice

    Verstappen, FP2, Saudi

    FP2 Saudi Arabia: Verstappen remains out front while Hamilton’s struggles magnified

    Verstappen

    FP1 Saudi Arabia: Max Verstappen fastest but Aston Martin showing pace at Jeddah

    saudi arabia

    Everything you need to know ahead of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix

    verstappen

    2022 Saudi Arabian GP: Throwback to Max Verstappen securing the win after epic battle with Leclerc

    Toto Wolff, Bahrain

    Big changes confirmed at Mercedes after “one of the worst days in racing”

    • Latest
    • Driver News
    • Team News
  • Features
    • All
    • Interviews
    • Race Reports 2020
    • Race Reports 2021
    Verstappen, FP2, Saudi

    FP2 Saudi Arabia: Verstappen remains out front while Hamilton’s struggles magnified

    Verstappen

    FP1 Saudi Arabia: Max Verstappen fastest but Aston Martin showing pace at Jeddah

    saudi arabia

    Everything you need to know ahead of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix

    verstappen

    2022 Saudi Arabian GP: Throwback to Max Verstappen securing the win after epic battle with Leclerc

    • Interviews
    • Race Reports 2020
    • Race Reports 2021
  • Races
    • Race Calendar
    • Championship standings
  • More
    • Quiz
    • Competitions
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • All
    • Driver News
    • Latest
    • Team News
    Red Bull

    Championship Standings: Red Bull running away with early points as Formula 1 heads to Australia for Round Three

    Perez

    Sergio Perez wins Saudi Arabian GP to lead second Red Bull one-two of the season making team history

    Perez

    Qualifying: Perez in pole position after Verstappen’s shock departure

    Red Bull drivers Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez

    FP3 Saudi Arabia: Red Bull domination continues with one-two to finish practice

    Verstappen, FP2, Saudi

    FP2 Saudi Arabia: Verstappen remains out front while Hamilton’s struggles magnified

    Verstappen

    FP1 Saudi Arabia: Max Verstappen fastest but Aston Martin showing pace at Jeddah

    saudi arabia

    Everything you need to know ahead of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix

    verstappen

    2022 Saudi Arabian GP: Throwback to Max Verstappen securing the win after epic battle with Leclerc

    Toto Wolff, Bahrain

    Big changes confirmed at Mercedes after “one of the worst days in racing”

    • Latest
    • Driver News
    • Team News
  • Features
    • All
    • Interviews
    • Race Reports 2020
    • Race Reports 2021
    Verstappen, FP2, Saudi

    FP2 Saudi Arabia: Verstappen remains out front while Hamilton’s struggles magnified

    Verstappen

    FP1 Saudi Arabia: Max Verstappen fastest but Aston Martin showing pace at Jeddah

    saudi arabia

    Everything you need to know ahead of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix

    verstappen

    2022 Saudi Arabian GP: Throwback to Max Verstappen securing the win after epic battle with Leclerc

    • Interviews
    • Race Reports 2020
    • Race Reports 2021
  • Races
    • Race Calendar
    • Championship standings
  • More
    • Quiz
    • Competitions
No Result
View All Result
Straight to the grid
No Result
View All Result

Peter Collins: Why Jordan cars hit the right note in Formula One

Peter Collins: Why Jordan cars hit the right note in Formula One

Credit: Picasa 3.0

When Jordan Grand Prix burst onto the scene with its iconic 191 challenger, it set the bar very high for its future race cars.

Looking through the gallery of cars produced by the Irish team over its fifteen years in Formula One, it’s a collection the team can be very proud of.

I always had a theory, if it looks fast, it probably is fast, although given the complexity of the design process, the technical specifications that have to be adhered to, and build precision involved in manufacturing, it being pleasing on the eye is hardly a designer’s primary motivation.

Having said that, if the end product looks great, all the better.

Credit: nakhon100

Every season we look forward to the new Formula One projectiles being unveiled. Each year, the designers have to work within new rules and regulations which go a long way towards influencing the overall look of the cars.

How each individual designer interprets those regulations is what gives each car its individual look and personality.

Yes, each car has its own personality. While on the subject it’s worth noting Ireland’s Jordan team certainly delivered on that front.

To put it simply they were the rock n roll in a paddock that preferred AOR and the only real noise came from magnificent V10 and V12 motors.

This image was epitomized by the team owner Eddie Jordan who seemed to derive as much pleasure from bashing the bejaysus out of a drum kit as sealing another lucrative commercial deal to keep Jordan Grand Prix on the road.

Credit: Phil Guest

In fact, EJ gigged regularly with his band Eddie Jordan and the Robbers, I kid you not. On a more serious musical note, real rock stars were regular guests of Jordan Grand Prix.

They don’t come much bigger than U2 now do they, although Beatles fans would argue that George Harrison might possibly be one exception.

It was interesting to see him scamper into the Jordan garage at the 2000 Australian Grand Prix desperate to escape the attentions of some VIP guests not to mention some awestruck journalists.

In fact, I remember Eddie Jordan being mildly amused at my apparent indifference to the presence of ‘a Beatle’ for God’s sake, one of the most famous people on the planet.

The truth of the matter was I just hadn’t noticed him zipping by, as I focussed on another interview with the Irish team principal. Once I did I can assure you I was suitably impressed, but resisted the temptation of requesting an interview.

When John Lydon (aka Johnny Rotten) of the Sex Pistols and PIL fame turned up in Indianapolis, I couldn’t resist. I decided The Godfather of punk, well known for his strong opinions on everything would be worth a few words. He duly obliged.

It wasn’t earth-shattering stuff, but we did end up in a wrestling match. Lydon took exception to me saying I had all of his albums, mistakingly thinking I was attempting to ingratiate myself with him. It was an odd reaction, but there you go. Oh, I won.

But let’s get back to those beautiful cars. There were some raised eyebrows when Jordan launched its 1997 challenger. A reptilian head was emblazoned on the nose of the car.

There was a collective look of bemusement at this somewhat outrageous livery from the Formula One establishment, but, it was another successful marketing ploy that garnered additional attention for the Irish team going into a season where they would continue to make their presence felt on and off the grid.

Aesthetically that 197 was very pleasing on the eye and it was a contender for the title of my other favourite Jordan.

Credit: Thomas Bersy

But I remember instantly loving the look of the Jordan 195, the team’s 1995 challenger. It looked compact, agile, and nimble, with beautiful lines set off by its sculpted side pods.

It was another Gary Anderson design and while the Peugeot V10 powering the Jordan that year may not have been the most reliable power unit on the grid, it did develop enough grunt to help the 195 to second and third at that seasons Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal, a race that also delivered Jean Alesi’s one and only GP win.

On that day the 195’s piloted by Rubens Barrichello and Eddie Irvine looked more than comfortable nipping through the tight corners and chicanes around the isle Notre Dame park circuit.

Credit: Beta Quadrant, England

So while it is hard to beat the sexy 7 up Jordan that launched The Irish team into Formula One, the 195 gave Jordan Grand Prix the look of an outfit that was no longer the new kid on the block.

The next few years would see Jordan compete with the best of them. But that’s for another day. In the meantime, add a Jordan 195 to the favourites section in your gallery.

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook

Related

Tags: Formula OneJordan Grand PrixPeter Collins
Previous Post

Qatar joins the 2021 F1 calendar for November race

Next Post

Mercedes admit what’s worrying them as we head into the final 7 races

Related Posts

Kingspan
Irish F1

Mercedes quickly break ties with Irish company after one week of partnership

Hamilton
Irish F1

Peter Collins: ‘Should driver reactions to situations in the race be broadcast’ after Hamilton fury?

Peter Collins remembers the dramatic start at the 1995 Portuguese Grand Prix
Interviews

Peter Collins remembers the dramatic start at the 1995 Portuguese Grand Prix

sergio
Interviews

Interview with Martin Brundle & Damon Hill: Can Perez give Verstappen a run for his money?

30 years ago Jordan Grand Prix made its Formula One debut
Irish F1

30 years ago Jordan Grand Prix made its Formula One debut

Next Post
Red Bull, Max Verstappen in Bahrain

Verstappen gives major RB19 update in Bahrain which may raise concern among other teams in the paddock

  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
30 years ago Jordan Grand Prix made its Formula One debut

30 years ago Jordan Grand Prix made its Formula One debut

Latest figures show F1 to be the second fastest growing major sports league on the planet

Latest figures show F1 to be the second fastest growing major sports league on the planet

Jordan

INTERVIEW: Eddie Jordan is an ‘irrepressible character’ who ‘ducked and dived’ to make it in F1

standings

Championship Standings: Max Verstappen leads as we head to Texas

Red Bull, Max Verstappen in Bahrain

Verstappen gives major RB19 update in Bahrain which may raise concern among other teams in the paddock

Aston Martin, FP2, Bahrain

Fernando Alonso shocks spectators as he places his Aston Martin at the top of the FP2 timesheet in Bahrain

Mercedes, George Russell, Bahrain

Issues persist for Mercedes as George Russell complains about floor and a ‘disturbance aerodynamically’

Aston Martin, FP2

Friday, Bahrain: Here are the full results from FP1 and FP2 as Aston Martin impress

Red Bull

Championship Standings: Red Bull running away with early points as Formula 1 heads to Australia for Round Three

Perez

Sergio Perez wins Saudi Arabian GP to lead second Red Bull one-two of the season making team history

Perez

Qualifying: Perez in pole position after Verstappen’s shock departure

Red Bull drivers Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez

FP3 Saudi Arabia: Red Bull domination continues with one-two to finish practice

Recent News

Red Bull

Championship Standings: Red Bull running away with early points as Formula 1 heads to Australia for Round Three

Perez

Sergio Perez wins Saudi Arabian GP to lead second Red Bull one-two of the season making team history

Perez

Qualifying: Perez in pole position after Verstappen’s shock departure

Red Bull drivers Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez

FP3 Saudi Arabia: Red Bull domination continues with one-two to finish practice

Popular Stories

  • Verstappen, FP2, Saudi

    FP2 Saudi Arabia: Verstappen remains out front while Hamilton’s struggles magnified

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Everything you need to know ahead of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • FP1 Saudi Arabia: Max Verstappen fastest but Aston Martin showing pace at Jeddah

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Qualifying: Perez in pole position after Verstappen’s shock departure

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • 2022 Saudi Arabian GP: Throwback to Max Verstappen securing the win after epic battle with Leclerc

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

Straight to the Grid

Straight to the Grid

Straight to the Grid is Ireland's first exclusive Formula One news source, bringing fans all of the latest
news, results, interviews, features and much more!

Navigation

  • Catch up
  • Competitions
  • Driver News
  • Features
  • Interviews
  • Irish F1
  • Latest
  • News
  • Quiz
  • Race Reports 2020
  • Race Reports 2021
  • Race Reports 2022
  • Team News
  • Uncategorized

Instagram

  • Who are you backing this weekend? #saudiarabia #formula1 #straighttothegrid
  • Highlights from the opening race of the season 🥳 #bahrain #2023 

📸: F1 live feed
  • Just hours away from the first race of the season!! #bahraingp #straighttothegrid #formula1
  • Follow us on TikTok ahead of the 2023 season #straighttothegrid #linkinbio
  • Verstappen has won the final race of 2022 - marking his 15th win of the season #abudhabi
  • George Russell wins the Brazilian Grand Prix in São Paulo 🏆
  • Max Verstappen has been crowned 2022 world champion after winning the Japanese GP 🏆🏁
  • 🏁 Highlights from Monza 🏁
  • Max Verstappen has won the Dutch GP 🏁
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • Latest
    • Driver News
    • Team News
  • Features
    • Interviews
    • Race Reports 2020
    • Race Reports 2021
    • Race Reports 2022
  • Races
    • Championship standings
    • Race Calendar
  • More
    • Quiz
    • Competitions

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.