Zonta for Jordan?
Ricardo Zonta has reportedly confirmed in Suzuka that he will join Jordan as test driver in 2001.
The British American Racing driver, who lost his seat at the team earlier this year when McLaren test driver Olivier Panis was confirmed as Jacques Villeneuve's team-mate next year, reportedly told Brazilian television that he will displace Czech F3000 driver Thomas Enge from the main testing role at Jordan.
Ricardo Zonta has reportedly confirmed in Suzuka that he will join Jordan as test driver in 2001.
The British American Racing driver, who lost his seat at the team earlier this year when McLaren test driver Olivier Panis was confirmed as Jacques Villeneuve's team-mate next year, reportedly told Brazilian television that he will displace Czech F3000 driver Thomas Enge from the main testing role at Jordan.
It has been rumoured since that Zonta would simply swap places with Panis, and resume the testing role at McLaren he had fulfilled several years ago, but the Brazilian also has links to Jordan from his brief time as a tester with the Irish team and that, coupled with Jordan's recently formed relationship with BAR engine supplier Honda, seems to have earned Zonta a tester's role with Jordan.
With Zonta moving to Jordan, the vacant McLaren test driving seat will now almost certainly go to Alexander Wurz, the unwanted Benetton driver who was ousted from his team when Jenson Button was confirmed as Giancarlo Fisichella's team-mate for the next two years.
It is not clear how long Zonta has been contracted to Jordan for, but he is likely to start his new job in December when Jordan begin preliminary tests of components for the 2001 car.
