Jordan signs technical agreement with RAND.

Jordan Grand Prix has signed an agreement with RAND Worldwide, a leading provider of technology and services to the engineering community, which will see RAND provide Jordan with Computer-Aided-Design and Manufacture (CAD/CAM) technologies, as well as product lifecycle management (PLM) software solutions, including data management tools and services which will be used to design and manufacture Jordan's Formula One cars.

As part of the five-year partnership, RAND will support the implementation of its tools and train the team's designers to maximise their potential benefits. The company will also work with Jordan's engineering team to develop best practices and procedures to maximize the utilization of these next generation PLM tools with the aim of helping the team improve efficiency in all relevant areas.

RAND's branding will appear on the Jordan Ford EJ14 cars starting with the next round of the F1 World Championship, the Grand Prix of San Marino on 23 to 25 April.

"I am looking forward to working with RAND," said John McQuilliam, Jordan's chief designer. "The design process is fundamental to the team's success and as such I am keen to give my team the best possible tools. RAND will be providing us with state of the art design software and just as importantly they will be working with us as technical partners. This will ensure a smooth transition from our current software and allow us to quickly realise the impressive capabilities of these products."

Head of aerodynamics Nicolo Petrucci added: "It is with great satisfaction that we welcome the agreement with RAND Worldwide to provide Jordan with its advanced design and product lifecycle management technology suite, centred around Catia V5 and Smarteam from Dassault Syst?mes. Design has always been the basis of our work and these products will make a difference in reaching our targets. As aerodynamicists, the collaboration with RAND over the coming years will allow us to explore with more freedom solutions that otherwise would remain merely abstract concepts. To develop our ideas we need compatible tools for the methods and procedures particular to our research. RAND will provide software, hardware and specialised technical education support to assist the Jordan design team - closing the loop of advanced calculation and wind tunnel experiment."

Brian Semkiw, CEO of RAND Worldwide concluded: "We are extremely excited about having this opportunity to become an integral part of such a well respected Formula One racing team and to be able to contribute in ways that we believe will help to increase their standing in the sport. Jordan's investment in these PLM tools and our services confirms their commitment to creating the best car they possibly can."