With approximately sixty five test days and a dozen shakedowns to complete within specified dates during the nine months of the year that testing is permitted under 2001 FIA regulations, Jordan's test team works to a very demanding schedule.

2001 has marked a significant step forward in Jordan's test programme with the creation of a two-car test team and full-time third driver, Ricardo Zonta.

Tim Edwards, formerly the Chief Mechanic on the race team but now Jordan's Test Team Manager gives an insight into his team’s work. 'Car development takes place throughout the year as testing is allowed over approximately twenty-two set weeks. During winter testing we can be away for weeks at a time, but once the race season starts, the test programme is equivalent to a race schedule, usually taking place for four days – Tuesday to Friday – following a race weekend.'

Edwards has a wealth of experience in the car development process from input into the testing and possible redesign of parts, to running new elements on the race cars. He continued, 'There probably isn't a single part on the car, from bodywork aerodynamics to the smallest component, that doesn't undergo some development or improvement during the season, either to make it lighter, more efficient or increase its performance benefit.' Not all tests however, are aimed at making the car go faster. 'We spend about fifty percent of the time concentrating on reliability which is why race simulations are so important to the test programme, even now at two thirds of the way through the season. Teams can never afford to be complacent.'

A schedule of racing and full time testing would be too physically and mentally draining for any Formula One driver, so a third driver who is dedicated to testing duties is a vital ingredient to a team's progression. 'Ricardo is always fresh and rested for the fortnightly three or four day test,' continued Edwards. 'He is an incredibly good driver and his feedback is very accurate, comprehensive and precise - so much so that both Honda and Bridgestone also greatly value his opinions. Although we gain data from the car, driver feedback from his first hand experiences is invaluable and Ricardo's ability to express what he has felt in the car helps to make tests very productive.'

Despite the season's schedule often not enabling the race and test teams to be at the factory at the same time, it would be far from the truth to think that they run independently from one another. 'The race team takes four cars to some races, including Monaco, Silverstone and Hungary this year, so one of the two test car crews will temporarily join the race team which is very good for team spirit and communication. I also attend both race and test briefings and debriefs which adds to the flow of information as I can relay the results from a test that may help the race team, and vice versa,' Edwards added.

So does the testing ban in the 'three week gap' after the German Grand Prix at Hockenheim and also from the second week in October until the end of December mean that the test team's task is reduced? Definitely not. 'There is just as much work to do in the 'off season' as there has been throughout the year,' continued Edwards. 'We're currently fine tuning plans for the remaining test sessions this season and we already have next year's pre-season test dates. This will enable us set time scales and work closely with all the team's departments on the new car build to maximise testing and development prior to the first race.'

Jordan Grand Prix