Rubens Barrichello became the first ever winner of the Chinese Grand Prix today in Shanghai, accompanied on the podium by Jenson Button and Kimi Raikkonen.  Nick Heidfeld and Timo Glock finished 13th and 15th for Jordan Ford after a tough but solid race.  Eddie Jordan praised the organisers for putting on a fabulous event.

He said, “Every single person involved in putting on the Grand Prix in Shanghai should congratulate themselves.  It’s one of the slickest and most professional efforts you will find and the welcome and happiness of the people here is a compliment to this fabulous new event on the calendar.  I can’t wait to return.”

Nick Heidfeld was 6th quickest in free practice this morning and 14th in qualifying with Glock putting his EJ14 16th on the grid for tomorrow's inaugural Chinese Grand Prix.  Heidfeld said, “The car is going quite well at this circuit, it seems to suit the track.  I learned the circuit pretty well and the engineers did a good job yesterday setting up the car.  It felt good this morning and I’m quite happy with my lap - I didn’t make any mistakes and the whole team did a good job.  We had problems yesterday but we worked hard overnight and are in better shape now, with more than the usual number of cars behind us.  I think the circuit is challenging and great fun, especially the first corner.  It’s outstanding.”

Shanghai International Circuit proved to be a hit today, the Jordan drivers thoroughly enjoying their first outing at the Chinese track and the team’s new third driver Robert Doornbos having the honour of being the first driver in history to complete a Formula One flying lap of the circuit.

Nick Heidfeld said, “It’s great fun to be at a new circuit and the people here did a very good job.  I really enjoyed the first corner, as I - and many other drivers - expected to.  It’s really special and very nice to drive, although it gave us a lot of graining understeer, especially in the beginning.  We managed to improve the car but as it’s a new circuit we will try many more things so we have a lot of work to do before tomorrow.”

With three Chinese sponsors (Shoulu-Huayuan Co., B&Q China and Citibank China) and several members of the team - including Chief Executive Eddie Jordan - having made special trips to visit the new F1 facilities in Shanghai, the forthcoming Chinese Grand Prix is a thrilling time for Jordan Grand Prix. 

Eddie Jordan explains: “We are very excited about coming to China to race.  I was the first F1 team boss to visit Shanghai International Circuit when I went last year and I love the place.  We are enormously pleased to welcome China into the F1 calendar and to bring our cars and the team to Shanghai.  Last year we worked closely with CCTV and through that and a variety of other initiatives, we have built our profile." 

"Our research shows Jordan to be almost as well-known as Ferrari in China and we believe it’s because of our yellow colour (in Chinese symbolism yellow is the heavenly colour) as well as our different and exciting style.  Added to that, we were first to come here and I think this is borne out by the fact that we have three Chinese sponsors at this race.  China has emerged as a hugely important economic power and Grand Prix racing is the first major worldwide sport to hold an event there, ahead of the Olympics and football.  This is a great honour for Formula One.”

Citibank China is partnering Jordan in the first Chinese Grand Prix. In a move emphasising the importance of the sport’s first visit to the PRC, Citibank China will feature prominent branding on the Jordan Ford EJ14 cars at the Grand Prix in Shanghai from 24 to 26 September 2004, and join Jordan in introducing Citibank customers to the sport.

Benny Chen, China Country Business Manager of Citibank’s Global Consumer Group said:  “We are proud to be part of bringing this great sport to what is a great city, Shanghai. We are sure that our customers will enjoy being part of such an exciting occasion. The sport epitomises much of what Citibank stands for: it is about high performance and a focus on innovation, as well as delivering a quality product globally to its audience. Likewise Jordan with its entrepreneurial spirit and energy makes a perfect partner for Citibank.”

Jordan Ford announces that Robert Doornbos will be the team’s third driver and will drive the team’s third car (39) at the Grands Prix of China, Japan and Brazil 2004.  Doornbos won the F3000 race in Spa this year and scored a further three podiums, finishing 3rd overall in the 2004 FIA International F3000 Championship for Arden International and adding the 2004 F3000 “Rookie Of the Year” award to his list of achievements.

Robert Doornbos said, “The F3000 season only just ended in Monza and it’s been an amazing season for me – in my first year in F3000 I won a race and got on the podium a few times.  To get this chance with Jordan is fantastic and although it’s late in the day and at circuits I have never visited, I’m grabbing the opportunity with both hands and looking forward to my first F1 drive.  I would like to thank my sponsors Muermans Group and Burgfonds for helping me to make this possible.”

Jordan Ford announces that Timo Glock, the team’s official third driver, will race car 19 in the Grand Prix of China this weekend.  The contract between Jordan Ford and Giorgio Pantano has been terminated. 

Eddie Jordan said, “It has been a pleasure working with Giorgio this year however contractual issues have made this unavoidable and we wish him every success in the future.  Timo’s performance throughout the season as our third driver in testing and free practice has been first-class particularly when he stood in and raced in Canada.  I am confident that in this unexpected call-up he will do a good job for Jordan again.  In Shanghai he will be in the same boat as everyone else as the circuit is new for all the drivers.” 

Glock has participated in team test sessions and Friday free practice at every Grand Prix so far this season.  He raced in the Canadian Grand Prix and scored two points in his F1 race debut.