Jordan: Test Driver Decision Can Wait

Jordan may wait until the first European race of the Formula One season in April before appointing a test driver, team boss Eddie Jordan said today.

Speculation has turned to the vacant reserve seat after the team named Briton Ralph Firman as their second driver on Tuesday. However Jordan told reporters that it was likely no appointment would be made until after the three opening long-distance 'flyaway' races in Australia, Malaysia and Brazil.

The season starts in Melbourne on March 9 and although Jordan have signed up for extra testing on race Fridays they currently only have rookie Firman and Italian Giancarlo Fisichella as contracted drivers.

"It's taken me a couple of months to sort out a second driver so I think I'm going to take a little break and think about it," said Jordan. "I have to think about what is in the best interests of the team.

"Don't hold me to this but I think it is probably beneficial for the team to concentrate on Ralph and Giancarlo for the first three flyaways because they are difficult enough as they are.

"Then we would look into introducing a reserve/test driver because we will need that person to do a lot of the workrate that is required, particularly on the Fridays."

Briton Gary Paffett, the German Formula Three champion, is one of the candidates for the job but he has also been testing recently for McLaren.

A spokesman for Brazilian Felipe Massa, Firman's main rival for the Jordan drive after being dropped by Sauber, has said he was talking to three teams about a testing slot.