Jordan seal Smith’s move

JORDAN yesterday won the battle with Renault over the services of designer Mark Smith.

Smith is likely to take the role of technical director as the Grand Prix team appears on the brink of being bought by a consortium of Arab businessmen.

Renault designer Smith agreed to join Jordan last month, but his current employers seemed intent on a court battle over his services as he was under contract until August 2005.

Renault has now released him and, although he will have to serve a period of gardening leave, should be able to start work at Jordan in December.

This is a massive boost to Jordan, as it is expected to announce later this week that a £50 million (€73.5 million) stake in the team will be sold to a consortium led by the Maktoum royal family of Dubai. Eddie Jordan himself is expected to retain at least a 15 percent stake, but will remain at the helm of the team for the near future.

The firm's Silverstone base will remain, with a satellite factory being established in Dubai. The deal is seen as crucial to the team's survival in F1.