Eddie Jordan, the charismatic former Formula 1 team owner and television personality, has died at the age of 76.
Born in Dublin in 1948, Jordan initially pursued a career in banking before discovering his passion for motorsport. He began racing karts in the early 1970s, eventually moving up to Formula Ford and Formula Three. However, he is best known for founding Jordan Grand Prix in 1991, a team that competed in F1 until 2005.
Jordan’s team was instrumental in launching the career of Michael Schumacher, who made his F1 debut with Jordan Grand Prix at the 1991 Belgian Grand Prix. Schumacher qualified seventh but retired early in the race due to car trouble. After that he swiftly moving to Benetton, where he would go on to win the first two of his seven world titles.
Under Jordan’s leadership, the team secured four Grand Prix victories and became known for its vibrant presence in the paddock.
After selling his team in 2005, Jordan transitioned to a media career, providing F1 commentary, initially for the BBC starting in 2009. He was also briefly part of the hosting team for “Top Gear” in the last decade, alongside Matt LeBlanc, Chris Evans, Chris Harris, Rory Reid, and Sabine Schmitz.
Jordan passed away peacefully in Cape Town, South Africa, surrounded by his family. He is survived by his wife, Marie, and their four children.
