Benson & Hedges Total Jordan Peugeot has ...

Published on 09 January 1997 by Verstappen Info Page

Benson & Hedges Total Jordan Peugeot has signed 23-year-old Italian Giancarlo Fisichella on a two-year contract after he impressed the team with testing before Christmas. Fisichella replaces Martin Brundle who has declared to be very disappointed and may become a TVcommentator. Jordan will start 1997 with two rookie-drivers as Fisichella partners Ralf Schumacher.

Eddie Jordan thanked Gian Carlo Minardi in facilitating the move. Minardi: "We are pleased that our efforts to find a suitable team for him have been rewarded. It is a particular pleasure for me to have managed to get an Italian driver into an up-and-coming team. I am sure that Giancarlo will thrive at Jordan and that the team will enable him to grow and become very successful."

Giancarlo Fisichella has won several karting titles before moving to Formula 3 in 1992. Two years later he won the Italian F3 Championship. In 1996 Fisichella drove 8 races for Minardi. In the mean time he contested in the ITC Championship. Fisichella told: "I am thrilled to be given such a fantastic opportunity". He thanked Giancarlo Minardi and Flavio Briatore for their support.