Jordan vow not to be slowed down by legal bill

JORDAN have vowed to race on in Formula One despite dropping a court case over sponsorship with telecommunications company Vodafone.

Team owner Eddie Jordan faces an unwelcome legal bill after dropping the High Court action.

Jordan's director of business affairs Ian Phillips insisted the team's future was secure despite the impending bill for the lengthy trial.

He said: "We have dropped the case. But the team is not in jeopardy we will be here next week and next year."

Jordan, whose team has struggled to continue in Formula One due to cash flow concerns, had sued the telecommunications giants, claiming they reneged on a sponsorship deal.

He accused Vodafone of agreeing to sponsor Jordan before making a last-ditch switch to Ferrari and launched a £150 million action against them.

But, in the High Court on Friday, he abandoned that lawsuit and offered to pay Vodafone's costs.

Back in December last year Jordan settled a lawsuit brought against them by former driver Heinz-Harald Frentzen, who was surprisingly sacked after the British Grand Prix in 2001.

On the track, Jordan's team have struggled this season, despite claiming a bizarre win at the Brazilian Grand Prix.

Giancarlo Fisichella won for the first time at Interlagos but has failed to score points since, admitting he is unhappy with the state of the team.

British rookie Ralph Firman has scored one point so far this season.

Jordan's action had hung on the meaning of four words: "You've got the deal."

At the start of a hotly disputed Commercial Court hearing in June, Mr Justice Langley heard claims Jordan was told that on the telephone by David Haines, Vodafone's global branding director, on March 22, 2001.

Alan Boyle QC, for Jordan, had urged the judge to rule the words brought into existence a binding £100million three-year sponsorship contract under which Jordan would display the Vodafone brand on their cars.

Vodafone agreed it held discussions with several F1 teams in 2001, but insisted it did not commit itself to any team before signing with Ferrari, dismissing Jordan's case as "wholly without merit".

The judge heard that Vodafone had narrowed the field to a "starting grid of five" with Ferrari, McLaren, Jordan, Benetton and Toyota all considered.

In their defence, Vodafone said no agreement was reached with Jordan, no terms were finalised and no binding contract existed.

Vodafone said it was "unheard of" in Formula One circles for any major sponsorship contract to be concluded verbally.