Eddie Jordan

About

Eddie Jordan

Eddie Jordan, born in Dublin in 1948, a former racing driver, team owner and entrepreneur is known for his irrepressible optimism and energetic joie de vivre.  A host of drivers owe their breaks to Eddie as a champion of young talent.  Drivers who have won Grand Prix who have driven for Eddie include Hill, Mansell, Schumacher (Michael) and Senna, also becoming world champions; and Alesi, Barrichello, Boutsen, Fisichella, Frentzen, Herbert, Irvine, Moreno, Schumacher (Ralf), Trulli and Watson.

Eddie’s unlikely introduction to motor racing came about in 1970 when as a bank clerk he moved to Jersey because of a Dublin bank strike, and there he experienced kart racing. Eddie returned to Dublin hooked, embarking on a driving career which saw him win karting and Formula Ford races. However, winning the Formula Atlantic Championship sealed his long-term contract as a driver with Marlboro, which paved the way for races in Formula 3, Formula 2 and testing a McLaren Formula 1 car (in 1979). Separately, he drove in the World Sports Car Championship with Porsche and the Pink Floyd BMW car at Le Mans.

Having suffered a number of major accidents Eddie retired from racing to set up his team in 1980 and began his now famous habit of finding young drivers and giving them a chance at success. Having given Senna his first ever Formula 3 drive in 1982 (which was later repeated with Damon Hill in 1985 – both becoming world champions), he signed Martin Brundle to lead the team for the British Championship in 1983 in which they finished second. The team went on to be champions with Johnny Herbert in 1987.  Jordan then moved up to Formula 3000 for the years 1988/89/90 winning races with Donnelly, Herbert, Irvine and taking the championship in the 1989 season with Jean Alesi.

Inspired by the success of his junior drivers, Eddie established Jordan Grand Prix in 1990 and entered Formula 1.  The team finished 5^th in the Constructors Championship in their first year and as private team with a small budget they consistently punched above their weight. Eddie led the team to their first of 4 victories with the infamous first and second place finish in Spa in 1998.  Eddie sold Jordan Grand Prix in January 2005.

Since then, he has developed a portfolio of business investments, enjoying various non-exec and ambassadorial roles for several businesses.  He was presenter for the UK TV’s coverage of Formula 1 through the BBC and Channel 4, as well as being a presenter on BBC’s Top Gear. Eddie has also followed his philanthropic interests by being a patron of CLIC Sargent (UK cancer charity) and is currently an ambassador for the Amber Foundation (UK charity for the young and homeless).   Eddie loves his music and plays the drums with his band, Eddie and the Robbers, and others, at various functions, parties and festivals across the world.

In 2012, Eddie was awarded an honorary OBE in recognition of his services to charity and motor racing.  He also holds honorary doctorates from the University of Ulster and Dublin’s Institute of Technology. In Ireland he has been inducted to the Motorsport Hall of Fame and has been awarded two prestigious awards:  the James Joyce Award from the Literary and Historical Society of the University College Dublin, and the Gold Medal of Honorary Patronage of the University Philosophical Society of Trinity College.  Eddie has also spoken at the prestigious Oxford Union and was awarded the Freedom of the City of London in 2021.