Firman battles to save Jordan career
Ralph Firman’s battle to save his Formula One career will continue in Jerez on Friday after he was called up for Jordan’s first test of the winter.
The 28-year-old, who scored one point for the team in his maiden season, will join Germany’s Nick Heidfeld and Czech F3000 driver Jaroslav Janis who got the test underway at the Spanish track today.
“The battle for race drives in F1 has never been tougher, but I am determined to do everything I can to help the team and earn my place in the line-up next season,” said Firman.
“My only previous experience of Jerez came in the mid-1990s when I briefly tested the McLaren as a result of winning the McLaren/Autosport Driver of the Year Award.”
Heidfeld is favourite to land one of the two vacant Jordan seats after being axed by Swiss team Sauber at the end of last season.
That could leave Firman battling with Allan McNish, who made his debut for Toyota in 2002 and was a test driver for Renault last season, and Hungary’s Zsolt Baumgartner for the other car.
Baumgartner, who would bring sponsorship to the team, competed in two races last year as Firman recovered from his horror smash during practice for the Hungarian Grand Prix.
Jordan and Minardi are the only teams still to finalise their 2004 driver line-up after Jaguar confirmed yesterday that Austrian rookie Christian Klien would replace Justin Wilson.
Wilson could rejoin Minardi, who are expected to give an F1 debut to Italy’s Gianmaria Bruni next year.
