In 1991, several new teams appeared on the grid, one of them was Jordan Grand Prix. The team came with the beautiful Jordan 191 with 7UP sponsorship. Perhaps the team had one of the most successful debuts in the Formula One in history. With several fourth, fifth and sixth finishes the team managed to score 13 points. Good enough to finish fifth in the constructors championship.
They also let some German named Michael Schumacher debut for them in Spa. We all known what happened the years to come. For 1992, the team was working on their new challenger the 192, which would be fitted with the Yamaha V12 engines. You could say it was far from the most reliable engine in the field. When the car appeared for the first time on the circuit, the 22nd of January 1992, at Silverstone there was a surprise. It was still green!
While Eddie Jordan his team made an amazing debut in the Formula One, the team was struggling financially. Despite the amount of points, despite the potential it seemed that it was not enough to find new sponsors. The influence of the Pepsi Company (at that time owner of 7UP) was less than previously and would eventually disappear. When the car appeared with Modena behind the wheel at Silverstone, the car had more or less the same livery as it predecessor the 191. Modena completed three laps on a Dusk Silverstone. Modena stated that Gary Anderson developed another great car.
The difference was that on the side pods was now Barclay a well-known tobacco company. In a beige colour scheme and brown letters. Also Philips Car Systems was presented on the car. A main sponsor was lacking on the car. The Yamaha engines in the back of the car were free; this would be the teams’ saviour to stay on the grid. When you speak with people who worked for Jordan Grand Prix back then they will all say so. On paper the Yamaha OX99 V12 engines was better than the Ford HB V8 engine. The reality was that this was not the case.
Prior the deal the team already modified one of their 191 cars (the 191-07) to be fitted with the Yamaha engine. Stefano Modena tested with the 191Y at Silverstone and Catalunya. The original of the V12 engines even dates back to 1990 when one of the Brabham BT58’s was modified. Some good times were set by Modena.
Only “days” before the start of the season a title sponsor was found. The South African oil company Sasol had committed itself to the team. The car was now mostly blue with beige on the side-pods. While shades of Miami blue and red were mixed in-between. In the end the green Jordan 192 was seen a couple of times during testing. Only days after the deal was concluded with Sasol Eddie Jordan as in Dublin to have talks with prime minister Albert Reynolds, who would fully support the Jordan team via Racing for Ireland. A new initiative at that time to attract Irish companies closer with the autosport.
To be fair, the 192 in the green livery was an eye-catcher as well!
