Jordan 198

The Jordan 198 was the Formula One car with which the Jordan team competed in the 1998 Formula One World Championship. It was driven by 1996 World Champion Damon Hill, who had moved from Arrows, and Ralf Schumacher, who was in his second season with the team. Test driver Pedro de la Rosa also drove the Jordan 198 during test sessions in 1998.^[3][4]

Jordan 198

Damon Hill's Belgian GP winning car on display at the Donington Grand Prix Collection
Category	Formula One
Constructor	Jordan
Designer(s)	Gary Anderson (Technical Director) Paul Crooks (Chief Designer) Mark Smith (Chief Engineer) John Iley (Head of Aerodynamics)
Predecessor	197
Successor	199
Technical specifications[1]
Chassis	Carbon-fibre and honeycomb composite structure
Suspension (front)	Unequal-length double wishbones, pushrod-operated rockers
Suspension (rear)	Unequal-length double wishbones, pushrod-operated rockers
Axle track	Front: 1,480 mm (58 in) Rear: 1,420 mm (56 in)
Engine	Mugen-Honda MF-310HC, 3,000 cc (183.1 cu in), 72° V10, NA, mid-engine, longitudinally-mounted
Transmission	Jordan 6-speed sequential semi-automatic
Power	690 hp (515 kW) @ 13,800 rpm[2]
Weight	600 kg (1,300 lb)
Fuel	Elf[note 1]
Tyres	Goodyear
Competition history
Notable entrants	Benson & Hedges Jordan
Notable drivers	9. Damon Hill 10. Ralf Schumacher
Debut	1998 Australian Grand Prix
First win	1998 Belgian Grand Prix
Last win	1998 Belgian Grand Prix
Last event	1998 Japanese Grand Prix
Races Wins Podiums Poles F/Laps 16 1 3 0 0
Constructors' Championships	0
Drivers' Championships	0

Overview

The 198 ran promisingly in pre-season testing, however the car struggled in the early part of the season. Damon Hill complained of understeer and the Mugen Honda engine was down on power. After Jordan failed to score a point in the first half of the season, Gary Anderson left the team and Eddie Jordan hired Mike Gascoyne to rework the car.^[5] Numerous improvements were made to the 198's suspension, front wing and floor, while Mugen developed the engine.^[6] Further tyre development work by Goodyear enabled the team to enjoy a resurgence, scoring points in every race bar one in the second half of the season.^[7] This included Hill taking their first F1 victory at the Belgian Grand Prix, with Schumacher second. Schumacher also finished third in Italy, while Hill was fourth on three occasions. The team ultimately finished fourth in the Constructors' Championship with 34 points, four behind Williams in third and one ahead of Benetton in fifth.^[8]

Sponsorship and livery

For the third consecutive year, Benson & Hedges was the team's main sponsor. The 198 featured a bright yellow "hornet" livery, with a hornet's eye and head painted on the either side of the nosecone; wings and stripes on the side of the car. At the Grands Prix that did not allow tobacco advertising, the text was replaced with the hornet-related "Buzzin' Hornets".

Additionally, the team was able to gain the MasterCard sponsorship on the airbox prior to the withdrawal of Lola based team from the previous season.

Complete Formula One results

(key) (results in bold indicate pole position)

Year	Team	Engine	Tyres	Drivers	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	Points	WCC
1998	Benson & Hedges Jordan	Mugen Honda V10	G		AUS	BRA	ARG	SMR	ESP	MON	CAN	FRA	GBR	AUT	GER	HUN	BEL	ITA	LUX	JPN	34	4th
				Damon Hill	8	DSQ	8	10	Ret	8	Ret	Ret	Ret	7	4	4	1	6	9	4
				Ralf Schumacher	Ret	Ret	Ret	7	11	Ret	Ret	16	6	5	6	9	2	3	Ret	Ret

Notes

1. Despite Repsol YPF is an oil and gas company as a major sponsor of Jordan Grand Prix since 1998 season, the Repsol YPF branding appears on the Jordan 198, but the car uses Elf fuel and lubricants.

References

1. "Jordan 198". www.statsf1.com. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
2. "Engine Mugen Honda". www.statsf1.com. Retrieved 26 November 2020.
3. "Formula One World Championship: The new Jordan 198 driversÕ line up for pre-season testing (l to r): Ralf Schumacher (GER); Pedro de la Rosa (ESP); Damon Hill (GBR)". Motorsport Images. Sutton Images. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
4. "Pedro de la Rosa (ESP) tests the Jordan 198. Formula One Testing, Magny-Cours, France, 15 Ð16 September 1998". Motorsport Images. Sutton Images. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
5. "Gascoyne on the way to Jordan". www.grandprix.com. Retrieved 15 February 2020.
6. "How the Jordan F1 team's first triumph at Belgium in 1998 was made in Ulster". Belfasttelegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 15 February 2020 – via www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk.
7. "1998 Jordan 198". conceptcarz.com. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
8. "Profile: Jordan 198". Motor Sport Magazine. Retrieved 14 February 2020.

• AUTOCOURSE 1998-99, Henry, Alan (ed.), Hazleton Publishing Ltd. (1998) ISBN 1-874557-43-8