Jordan will not disobey tobacco law

The team's main sponsor Benson & Hedges was considering running full branding at Silverstone in response to the Government's anti-smoking legislation.

However a Jordan Grand Prix spokesman said, 'We will definitely run unbranded cars at Silverstone.

'Beyond that it is unclear what will be decided.'

The Government announced last week that from December 10 all tobacco billboard advertising will be banned.

The legislation will also prohibit all sports sponsorship by tobacco companies by 2003.

However, F1 and snooker have been given an extra three years to phase out support from tobacco sponsors, providing they demonstrate a 20 per cent reduction every 12 months.

With F1's extension confirmed, there was speculation that its tobacco sponsors could seek to maximise exposure in Britain and Germany.

The ruling, announced last week could lead tobacco companies to snub their voluntary ban on full advertising at the German and European Grands Prix.

It was thought other tobacco companies would have followed suit had B&H decided to run full branding at Silverstone.

'If they [B&H] jump [on branding], then we might follow,' said a spokesman for another tobacco company.

Tobacco liveried cars will run with branding blanked out in France this weekend because of the country's strict laws.