Davidson Has a Fan in New Jordan Boss

The new boss of the Jordan Formula One team still has no drivers for the season starting in Australia on March 6 but says he is a big fan of BAR tester Anthony Davidson.

However, a far more likely signing is Mexican Mario Dominguez, CART rookie of the year in 2002, who has been negotiating with newcomers Midland for a drive in 2006.

Midland took over Jordan on Monday, buying 100 percent of the team's shares, after originally planning to make their Grand Prix debut next year.

"We are working on this, we will make an announcement very soon," said Midland F1 managing director Colin Kolles, who has owned Formula Three teams in Germany and is now Jordan principal, when asked about driver options.

"I think our suggestions and our ideas were not so far away (from Jordan's), to be honest," he told Reuters. "But I am coming out of Formula Three so I know quite a lot of drivers, and this is the benchmark for me."

Jordan had three drivers last year - Germany's Nick Heidfeld, who is sure to be signed by Williams either as a racer or tester, Italian Giorgio Pantano and Germany's Timo Glock.

Glock, 22, came to Jordan as a test driver after winning three races in the 2003 European Formula Three series.

Davidson raced for Midland sporting director Trevor Carlin in British Formula Three and Kolles said the Briton had always been on their radar.

"Anthony Davidson is one of my favourite drivers," he said. "Also for Trevor he is one of the favourites, but it's not only our decision. We were looking at Davidson for a long time but we will see if we can find a solution. It's not that easy.

"It's not a question of (him being) expensive, not a problem," he added.

Davidson was offered a test with Williams last year but was unable to take it due to contractual problems, with BAR insisting that he remain available to them for 2006 should Briton Jenson Button leave.

Midland, owned by 36-year-old Russian-born Canadian businessman Alex Shnaider, made their move after Shnaider was introduced to Eddie Jordan by Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone.

The group, with extensive interests in Russia and the former Soviet Union, are planning a launch in Moscow's Red Square next month with President Vladimir Putin on the guest list.

Jordan will be renamed Midland next year. Until then, the Midland name will feature in Formula Three, a junior category that serves as a training ground for would-be Grand Prix drivers.

"We have to develop Russian drivers therefore Midland...will run a Formula Three team in the Euro series so we will develop step by step a Russian driver," said Kolles. "It's not that you go into Russia and pick up a driver."