Gascoyne talks up Jordan chances

The Irish outfit that won two races last year and finished third in the championship - headed only by McLaren and Ferrari - have finished in the points just four times in their first 10 starts of the season.

Gascoyne believes that is about to change.

"We have been increasing the mileage we've been doing on the troublesome components and we have not had any problems in the testing since Barcelona," he said.

"We are very confident that our reliability worries are behind us and we are feeling confident going to the Nurburgring."

Frentzen started the European Grand Prix from pole last season and was looking a good bet for victory when his car broke down around half distance.

Jordan's revival is not before time.

They have slipped off last year's hard-won third place in the constructors' championship as Williams have gone from strength to strength.

Gascoyne is set to leave the team next year and the cornerstone of their success, Heinz-Harald Frentzen, 33 today, is out of contract at the end of the year.

Both Benetton and particularly Jaguar are said to be interested in the German's services, as well as BAR if Jacques Villeneuve jumps ship.