Briscoe key to Jordan deal?

The Jordan team left Brazil feeling more optimistic about its future in Formula One, having been linked - again - to a possible engine deal with Toyota to replace its current partnership with soon-to-depart Ford.

Despite scoring an unexpected victory in the 2003 Brazilian Grand Prix, the relationship between Jordan and Ford appeared doomed as soon as the Blue Oval announced that it would be ceasing all Formula One activities, including the closure of its Jaguar racing operation and the sale of engine builder Cosworth. Although the pessimists in the paddock have long written off Jordan and fellow minnow Minardi ahead of 2005, team boss Eddie Jordan was quoted at Interlagos as saying that the Silverstone-based squad would survive into next season - and that he was leaving Brazil far more confident about the future.

Part of that optimism came from Toyota's admission that, although late in the day, the new rules stipulating that F1 engines will have to last for two complete meetings from next season would open up the opportunity to supply a customer team - and commercial director Ian Phillips has since revealed that talks between the two parties are ongoing.

"We are very close, but there's still quite a lot of paperwork to do," he told Reuters, "It's going to be a couple of weeks before it's all absolutely certain, but we are very, very hopeful now that we've got the elements in place."

The deadline for entries for the 2005 campaign is 15 November, and Jordan will need to have an engine deal in place by then. One concession that the team may have to make in order to secure the deal is to sign Toyota's Australian prot?g? Ryan Briscoe. The 23-year old will still be contracted to the Japanese marque in 2005, but will not be a regular member of the Toyota Racing squad following the signings of new race duo Jarno Trulli and Ralf Schumacher, and the retention of Olivier Panis and Ricardo Zonta to conduct testing duties.

Briscoe got a late chance to impress the F1 pit-lane this season when, following the exit of Cristiano da Matta, he was drafted into the Toyota line-up to run a third car during Friday practice at the final six grands prix of the season. Despite being unfamiliar with most of the circuits he visited, as well as with the latest Toyota, the Australian acquitted himself well and would not be out of place in several line-ups, Jordan's included, next season. The Silverstone team is unlikely to name its two race drivers until early next year, once partner and sponsorship deals have been finalised.