Jordan poised to make engine announcement

Jordan’s 2006 engine supply will be decided within the next few days, according to managing director Colin Kolles who has issued a robust defence of his team.

The Silverstone-based team currently run Toyota engines and are closing in on a deal to secure powerplants for next season, when they will be rebranded as Midland.

Kolles said: “You will hear very soon, maybe tomorrow. It’s not a question of months, just days.”

Jordan have been the subject of paddock gossip in recent weeks, with rumours mounting that Canadian millionaire Alex Shnaider was considering selling up after less than a season as a team owner.

Kolles confessed his team had struggled to solve all the problems inherited when Shnaider, who had planned to start a team from scratch in 2006, bought out Eddie Jordan but is adamant they are moving in the right direction.

Jordan have slipped behind Minardi in recent qualifying sessions but Kolles insists this season is no reflection of Midland’s ability to run a successful Formula One operation.

Speaking at Montreal, the scene of Shnaider’s home grand prix, he added: “We will see what will happen in the next weeks. I know some people expect things to happen overnight but we have a certain plan.

“This is a process I can’t change overnight. The morale of the team will improve if we have better results.

“Alex Shnaider decided to put the money up front one year early. This is a season of consolidation. Jordan was like a castle, nobody invested money in this castle and we need to renovate.

“Every day there is a new surprise – that is the problem. The company was in a disastrous situation.”

Kolles was speaking at a press conference to unveil Adrian Burgess as his new sporting director following the resignation of Trevor Carlin.

He claimed he was surprised by Carlin’s decision to step down and denied suggestions his management style was the cause.

“For sure my way is very direct,” he said. “But I never had the smallest problem with Trevor Carlin. There is a big stress factor but it was a big surprise. We never had an argument.

“We have to move forward, we don’t waste our time. We have to put fresh new seeds in the ground.”