Jordan EJ14

The Jordan EJ14 was the fourteenth Jordan Formula One car. It was used by the team to compete in the 2004 Formula One season. The car itself was not a totally new car; instead it was a major upgrade of the previous year's uncompetitive EJ13. The chassis itself was modified and combined with a new aerodynamic package and more powerful Ford-badged Cosworth engine. It also had a return to a single-keel suspension layout. However, the team's small budget meant that little or no testing of the cars was carried out, both before the season and during it. Unsurprisingly, the car was just as uncompetitive as its predecessor. The lack of speed was blamed on a lack of power coming from the Cosworth engine, which the team claimed was not the same as those being used by Jaguar, Ford's works team.^[1]

The team had only just survived the winter break after the 2003 season, and when the EJ14 broke cover for the first time, it carried the message "Lazarus", referring to the team’s resurrection from the dead. For the rest of the season the car would run with various messages of peace on the engine over. These included a dove at the 2004 Australian Grand Prix, and a picture of Ayrton Senna at the San Marino GP, to commemorate the tenth anniversary of his death. The changing images were chosen by the Bahraini government, who purchased sponsorship space on the team's engine cover to celebrate the inaugural Bahrain Grand Prix.

Nigel Mansell demonstrates an EJ14 in the streets of London in the days leading up to the 2004 British Grand Prix.

Initially Sauber refugee Nick Heidfeld and Formula 3000 driver Giorgio Pantano were the two drivers. Heidfeld was chosen for his skill, was Pantano got a drive primarily because he had sponsors who would contribute money to the team. It was expected that unemployed Jos Verstappen would take the second seat, but the deal for him to drive fell through. In Canada, Pantano was replaced by German Timo Glock, as Pantano's backers were unable to pay for his drive in time. Glock went on to score two points in that race after both Williamses and Toyotas were disqualified for brake duct infringements. Glock would then replace Pantano for good in the final three rounds, when it became clear that Pantano would not be able to pay for his seat any longer.

Unfortunately the team’s budget was very small, which direct affected their performance. Benson and Hedges was the main sponsor, with only smaller sponsors such as Trust contributing small amounts of money to the team’s budget. A lack of testing and development, plus the need to have drivers who could pay for their seat, rather than be skilled, affected the team’s results.

The car's performance and reliability were generally poor all year. A total of 5 points were scored all year. Heidfeld drove superbly to seventh place at Monaco, and both Jordans were promoted to 7th and 8th after the Canadian race due to multiple cars getting disqualified. However, it was still the first time in the team’s history that a top-six result had not been achieved. There were other points-scoring opportunities, but poor luck and poor reliability robbed the team of these chances. Most notably Heidfeld was running strongly at the carnage-packed US Grand Prix, and looked set for points when his engine failed. Points could also have been scored at Spa, but both drivers were involved in accidents, with Pantano out on lap 1, and Heidfeld finishing 10th, but 5 laps down. Occasionally the Jordans were able to fight with other teams, notably Sauber, but more commonly Jaguar and Toyota. But for the most part, the EJ14s would spend their time running behind most of the field, with just the Minardis behind.

The team's future was put into doubt late in the season when Ford announced it was withdrawing from F1, leaving the team with no engines for the following year. For a while it appeared that the team would close immediately after the final race of the season. Only a late deal to run Toyota engines for 2005 saved the team.

Complete Formula One results

(key) (results in bold indicate pole position)

Year	Team	Engine	Tyres	Drivers	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	Points	WCC
2004	Jordan	Cosworth V10	B		AUS	MAL	BHR	SMR	ESP	MON	EUR	CAN	USA	FRA	GBR	GER	HUN	BEL	ITA	CHN	JPN	BRA	5	9th
				Nick Heidfeld	Ret	Ret	15	Ret	Ret	7	10	8	Ret	16	15	Ret	12	11	14	13	13	Ret
				Giorgio Pantano	14	13	16	Ret	Ret	Ret	13		Ret	17	Ret	15	Ret	Ret	Ret
				Timo Glock								7								15	15	15

References

1 2 Hamilton, Maurice (2004). "Formula 1 Review: Jordan". In Alan Henry. Autocourse 2004-2005. London, England: Hazleton Publishing. pp. 68–69. ISBN 1-903135-35-4.
↑ Ménard, Pierre (2006). "The Teams: Jordan". The Great Encyclopedia of Formula 1. Paris, France: Chronosports Editeur. p. 328. ISBN 2-84707-118-0.
↑ Jones, Bruce (ed.) (2004). "Team Statistics: Jordan". The Official Formula 1 Season Review 2004. Sparkford, England: Haynes Publishing. p. 52. ISBN 1-84425-202-7.
↑ Domenjoz, Luc (ed.) (2004). "The Players - Jordan Ford". Formula 1 Yearbook 2004-2005. Paris, France: Chronosports Editeur. pp. 38–29. ISBN 2-84707-072-9.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Jordan EJ14.

Jordan Grand Prix

Founder: Eddie Jordan

Notable staff: Gary Anderson; Mike Gascoyne; John McQuilliam; Sam Michael; Rob Smedley

Notable drivers: Jean Alesi; Rubens Barrichello; Andrea de Cesaris; Giancarlo Fisichella; Heinz-Harald Frentzen; Damon Hill; Eddie Irvine; Michael Schumacher; Ralf Schumacher; Jarno Trulli

Formula One cars: 191; 192; 193; 194; 195; 196; 197; 198; 199; EJ10; EJ10B; EJ11; EJ12; EJ13; EJ14; EJ15; EJ15B

Cars that competed in the 2004 Formula One season

Ferrari F2004 Williams FW26 McLaren MP4-19 McLaren MP4-19B Renault R24 BAR 006 Sauber C23 Jaguar R5 Toyota TF104 Toyota TF104B Jordan EJ14 Minardi PS04B

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