Firman lays down his case for Jordan drive.

British driver Ralph Firman has promised he will 'surprise' Jordan if they choose to stick with him this coming season.

Firman's hopes of staying on at the Silverstone-based team received a boost this week, with news that Jos Verstappen had ended talks with team boss, Eddie Jordan.

Firman is now one of a number of drivers who could get the nod, others include fellow Brit Allan McNish, and Nick Heidfeld, who has a provisional deal with the team subject to the outfit raising sufficient sponsorship. Currently both seats at Jordan remain to be filled.

Speaking to his personal website www.ralphfirman.com, Firman, who made his F1 debut with EJ's squad last year, added that he could make a 'big step forward' this season.

"It's been a difficult winter for me because Jordan has had to concentrate on sponsorship issues, whether team sponsors or sponsors brought by drivers, and I have had to wait and see what develops," noted the Brit. "Eddie has been very supportive of me over the past few months, keeping me informed of what's going on and being absolutely clear about his priorities.

"I've read and heard all the same stories that everyone else has heard about other drivers. While that has been frustrating at times I respect the fact that the team has to examine all its options and find the best combination of drivers and financial support to go racing in the best way possible.

"From my own point of view I know that the team has not yet taken up their option on me because I don't have a major sponsor to bring and they also criticised my one lap qualifying at times last year.

"On the first point, I have been working hard to try and find financial support for the team and have no doubt that with the new technical package for this season Jordan is worth backing.

"As regards my own pace I don't agree although pretty well anything I say on the matter will be taken as an excuse. Whether it's that I had never previously raced anything at 12 of the tracks, never mind in an F1 car, or that the EJ13 was neither particularly quick nor reliable. And of course there were the shunts in Hungary and elsewhere caused by obvious things falling off the car and I ended up missing entire races owing to injury. When you add these things to the learning curve of setting up the car for one lap qualifying, having had very limited testing miles throughout the season, out qualifying Giancarlo Fisichella [who is a very talented and experienced driver] at the two circuits I had knowledge of - Barcelona and Suzuka - I feel I did a pretty professional job."

He added: "Anyway, I don't really care for any of that because I know in myself that when I learn a formula I always perform and sooner or later win the championship. This I always do.

"Also I don't learn by crashing - I do it by calmly finding the right level. This I did in karting and the junior formulae and then when I finished second in the British F3 Championship at my first attempt, after leading for most of the season, I came back and won the following year. In Japan I drove for money a completely uncompetitive car in Formula Nippon for a few seasons and then stepped into Nakajima's car, won two races and then the Championship, the following year. It always comes. I always do it."

"I know Jordan don't look back on last year with any satisfaction," he concluded, "They acknowledge it as being their worst ever year and I drove their second car in their worst ever year in my first ever year in F1.

"But I also know that if I step into the EJ14 I would go to Melbourne with a foundation of experience behind me, a team which I know and really like, and with the absolute confidence that we will make a big step forward from last year. And whether it's working with Nick Heidfeld or whoever, I know absolutely that I have an immense amount to bring to Jordan in a second season within F1.

"I can bring the car home in one piece and score points for the team, which surely is what matters most now for Jordan."

For more on Ralph Firman go to his personal website: www.ralphfirman.com.