Revised Jordan Set for Magny-Cours

Sporting Director Trevor Carlin said: "We've got a new gearbox which we are testing at the moment and won't start using for a couple of races. The revised car will also have a whole new aero kit and should be a reasonable step forward in performance."

The new aerodynamic package will be based around the same monocoque but will feature new sidepods, engine cover, rear floor, rear wing, and also a new front wing configuration.

Carlin emphasised that the update will be Jordan-produced but with input from Dallara, which is contracted to produce Midland's first chassis for 2006.

"It makes sense to have input from Dallara because they've been working on a new bodyshape and aerodynamics for the '06 car," Carlin explained, "so we are trying to incorporate that. It's a bit of a melting pot now, which is good."

John McQuilliam heads the mechanical side of the project at Jordan, with chief aerodynamicist Simon Phillips in charge of the aero side, working with ex-Jaguar man Dan Fellows at Dallara. The team are expected to appoint someone to overview the technical direction of both teams.

Carlin, however, denied stories that there were any problems with the Dallara association. "I think a mischievous Italian journalist started something in Imola and it went around that we'd all fallen out and it was all a disaster, but that's all totally untrue," he said.

"Once we've finished doing this update then Dallara and Jordan will be working together on the new car. So we'll have two wind tunnels working and we hope to make a really big step forward."

He also denied suggestions that concentrating on a mid-season update would detract from the effort on next year's car.

"It's just human nature to be competitive. Everyone moves forward in F1 and if you don't, you go backwards. We don't want our baseline to be even further behind and so if we can make the last EJ car 1s faster, then that's our starting point for 2006.

"Everything you do on this car you learn for the future, so it's not wasted at all. And hopefully it gives a bit of motivation to the factory and the drivers if they know that something new is coming. Dallara is working on the '06 car anyway and we'll be joining them on that project in six or seven weeks time."