The 2001 British Grand Prix marks Jordan's second decade of racing at Silverstone. Eddie Jordan, Chief Executive commented, "The team has a lot of history at Silverstone. Jordan Grand Prix has been based here since 1990 - the year that we started up. I also began Eddie Jordan Racing in 1980 from a lock up unit - which we still own today - within Silverstone Circuit, before we moved to our current factory across the road in December 1991."

Although Silverstone has a special feeling being the home circuit and race for Jordan, the team has seen mixed fortunes here over the years. Hope remains however, that the points scoring form that Jordan has achieved at this race in the last five years will continue into this season.

The home Grand Prix for Benson and Hedges Jordan Honda got off to a good start today when Heinz-Harald Frentzen and Jarno Trulli were fifth and ninth fastest at the end of the first day.

"We think it may be wet tomorrow and during the race, so we have to be ready for all circumstances," said Frentzen. "More or less everything went according to plan today and we achieved what we wanted to achieve. Of course, because Silverstone is our home track, we already have quite a bit of information although surprisingly, considering the British weather, if it rains tomorrow it will be the first day for me at Silverstone in wet conditions! I have mainly tested in the dry."

Plans were thrown into disarray this morning when rain fell throughout morning practice at Silverstone. Heinz-Harald Frentzen was second fastest with Jarno Trulli seventh for Benson and Hedges Jordan Honda, although times were fairly meaningless because of the changing conditions.

"It was quite good for me to get experience in the wet conditions at Silverstone," said Frentzen. "It was quite exciting, actually! It was useful to give me a good feeling for the various circumstances which we are likely to face this afternoon. There may be a chance, for instance, of the track drying out towards the end of the qualifying session and, obviously, that is when you need to be on the track. This morning we were able to find out about the different tyres in order to be ready for whatever happens this afternoon."

Benson and Hedges Jordan Honda produced their best qualifying result of the season when Jarno Trulli and Heinz-Harald Frentzen were fourth and fifth fastest for tomorrow's British Grand Prix at the end of a dramatic 60-minute session on a dry track.
 
Plans had been upset when the two morning practice sessions were run in the wet but the rain did not return for the all-important hour of qualifying. Matters were complicated, however, when the official timing computers were down for most of the session.

A trouble-free warm-up for Benson and Hedges Jordan Honda as Jarno Trulli and Heinz-Harald Frentzen set second and fourth fastest times during the thirty-minute session.

"It was dry on Friday, so we were able to do most of our race preparation then," said Trevor Foster, Joint Managing Director, Jordan Grand Prix.

A disappointing day for Benson and Hedges Jordan Honda as Jarno Trulli was eliminated at the first corner and various problems for Heinz-Harald Frentzen meant he had to fight hard to finish seventh, one place away from a championship point.

The result did not reflect the optimism created by a very encouraging qualifying session and cars that, otherwise, proved very competitive and well-balanced throughout the weekend.