Jordan Hope for Successful Appeal to Win Honda Battle

Key members of the Jordan team were in Paris for an FIA hearing on Friday, desperate to overturn the disqualification of Jarno Trulli in September's United States Grand Prix.

Trulli was disqualified after finishing fourth because of an illegal plank beneath his car, and the loss of precious points left the Silverstone-based team level on points with Honda-powered rivals British American Racing.

A positive decision for Jordan would see them overhaul BAR and become the top-placed Honda runner, an essential position if they are to be in a good position to stake a claim for sole rights to the Japanese powerplant in 2003.

"There is an enormous perceptual difference between fifth and sixth place," said a Jordan spokesperson. "If our appeal is successful and we therefore hold on to our fifth place, we will have improved our standing from last year and will have finished above the other Honda team competing in this season's Championship."

However, the result of the trial will not directly affect the team that much, as the revenue from television money is insignificant in relation to the massive budgets of top teams such as Jordan.

"The difference between finishing 5th or 6th in the World Championship makes very little difference financially," said the spokesperson.

"There is a slight loss in TV revenues, but otherwise finances remain unaltered. Sponsorship revenue for example wouldn't change, and there is no difference in operational issues such as the number of passes issued to the team and so on."

According to the FIA, the outcome of the appeal will be made public on Saturday afternoon.