Prior to today’s driver announcement from Benson and Hedges Jordan Honda, Eddie Jordan and Takuma Sato pleasantly surprised over 200 Honda staff yesterday afternoon when the pair visited Honda’s largest R&D centre in Japan, located in Tochigi, 100km north of Tokyo.

The visit lasted two hours, during which time Eddie and Takuma viewed the prototype of the 2002 Honda engine, followed by a Q&A session which was eagerly watched by the many staff working on Honda’s Formula One project. Sato was warmly welcomed by his countrymen and received numerous congratulations for being the first Japanese driver to claim victory in a significant oversees championship (Formula 3).

During the Q&A, Eddie Jordan commented, "The facilities here at Honda R&D are so impressive and I have every reason to feel optimistic for the future."