MARCH 30, 2001

Hamidy will steer Jordan

ITALIAN Jarno Trulli has predicted that new technical director Eghbal Hamidy will be a major force in Jordan's attempts to move closer to Ferrari and McLaren this season.

Jordan are currently third in the constructors' standings and Trulli admits that the Iranian engineer has made a big impact during his opening month with the Silverstone-based team.

"I think with Hamidy we will have a good boost to the system," said Trulli. "It takes time, but I think they [the engineers] have done a good job and the organization is getting back to the right position."

Jordan was left in the lurch by the departure of former tech-boss Mike Gascoyne last year, but the team has produced a good car without him, and are already looking more competitive than last season.

"I think we have a pretty good car this year. Both drivers have new engineers and we are getting on well with them. The team is showing that it is working hard and we are going in the right direction."