Blue Oval ready for return.

The corporate logo with the strongest heritage in grand prix racing returns to the Formula One world championship at the Australian Grand Prix this weekend.

With 175 grand prix victories behind it, the Ford blue oval will launch a new chapter in its illustrious racing career when the Jordan-Ford team takes to the 2.3 mile Melbourne track for the inaugural round of the 2003 season.

The distinctive yellow cars will carry the ubiquitous Cosworth name on its engine cover as they start the 2003 season, renewing an association with the Northampton-based manufacturer that dates back to the team's first foray into grand prix racing back in 1991. In Melbourne, the Jordan EJ13s will be powered by the Ford Cosworth RS engine, a development of the specialist manufacturer's V10 power unit.

The decision to forge a partnership with Jordan Grand Prix was taken against the background of Ford Europe's product-led resurgence. The partnership complements Ford's activities in the FIA World Rally Championship and strengthens the platform on which the company markets and promotes its engineering excellence, brand values and sporty road cars such as the recently launched Focus RS. It also provides a valuable opportunity to endorse the long-term plan for the return of the Cosworth brand to Ford's future vehicle line-up.

"Formula One is acknowledged as being the proving ground for vehicle technology," the driving force behind the Jordan-Ford engine programme, Ford Europe president and CEO Martin Leach said, "We intend to use our involvement with Jordan Grand Prix to motivate and inspire our employees throughout Europe and, in particular our engineering teams, while using our participation in the sport to generate greater awareness and value for our sporting brands."

The renewal of the Jordan-Ford partnership brings the most successful engine supplier/manufacturer relationship in the annals of the sport back to the track. Ford is the most successful participant in the history of the sport, with those unparalleled 175 victories, 13 drivers' championship titles and ten constructors' championship successes - a record unmatched by any other manufacturer.

"We judge our motorsport participation on the value which it brings to Ford Motor Company," enthused Ford Europe's director of motorsport, Martin Whitaker, explained, "Our involvement at world championship level both in Formula One and in the World Rally Championship delivers a vital return to the company through the association with the sport to our performance road cars and the promotion of our brand values.

"The association with Jordan is already generating significant motivational interest throughout the company, and we look forward to a successful working relationship with the team, and also to enjoying the passion and fun that is synonymous with the Jordan name."