Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 18 March 2001

Sepang circuit lies next to the city’s main airport, about forty five minutes south of central Kuala Lumpur, and was purpose-built for Formula One as a state of the art racing circuit, the first of its kind in Malaysia. This will be the third consecutive Grand Prix the track has hosted and its excellent facilities provide a high quality working environment for teams and drivers. Sepang has an unusually wide track which allows for good overtaking opportunities, but is still a challenge for drivers with its variety of tight and flowing corners and two fast and long straights on either side of the spectacular canopied grandstands. The hot track temperature creates low grip level, with the heat also making this race hard on engines. A good car balance is required for the quick corners although the track’s flowing nature makes it light on the brakes.

Now scheduled at the opening end of the season, as opposed to the end, the Malaysian Grand Prix stands a greater chance of seeing rain for the race, although the heat and humidity will still be intense. In four of the last five years it has rained in Sepang on 18 March, which could make for an exciting race.

Preview, 2001 Malaysian Grand Prix
With two points currently to its name, Benson and Hedges Jordan Honda flies to the Sepang circuit for the Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix to continue its World Championship challenge.
Friday Practice, 2001 Malaysian Grand Prix
Jarno Trulli gave Jordan Grand Prix an excellent start to the weekend by setting fastest time during the opening practice sessions for the Malaysian Grand Prix. Heinz-Harald Frentzen was seventh fastest at the end of a trouble-free day for Benson and Hedges Jordan Honda.
Saturday Practice, 2001 Malaysian Grand Prix
Apart from a small technical problem on Jarno Trulli's car, everything went according to plan as Benson and Hedges Jordan Honda made final preparations for qualifying this afternoon. Heinz-Harald Frentzen was sixth fastest with Trulli two tenths of a second slower in seventh place.
Qualifying, 2001 Malaysian Grand Prix

Honda drivers Jarno Trulli and Heinz-Harald Frentzen qualify fifth and ninth for tomorrow's Malaysian Grand Prix.

Trulli overcame time lost earlier in the day through a mechanical problem and Frentzen slipped a few places when other drivers were marginally quicker during the final minutes.

Sunday Warm-up, 2001 Malaysian Grand Prix

A change in weather conditions on race morning brought added importance to the warm-up.

Heinz-Harald Frentzen, who had a minor clutch problem, set sixth fastest time on a drying track. Jarno Trulli, who ran both his race car and the spare car, was third fastest.

Race Results, 2001 Malaysian Grand Prix

Benson and Hedges Jordan Honda scored three points at the end of an extraordinary race when the fortunes of the entire field was thrown to the wind by a rain storm in the opening laps.

Despite almost failing to make the start, Heinz-Harald Frentzen came through to finish fourth. Jarno Trulli, who led briefly, took eighth place, one lap down on the winner, Michael Schumacher.