MARCH 23, 2005

Firman goes back to Japan

Former Jordan F1 driver Ralph Firman Jr is going back to Japan where he made his name and earned himself the chance in F1 in 2003. Firmin will join Team Honda Racing in the Super GT Championship and will be seen at the wheel of an Autobacs Honda NSX. He will partner Daisuke Ito. Firman has been out of racing since Jordan after a Nissan World Series programme fell apart at the start of 2004.

Firman is a former British Formula 3 and Formula Nippon champion and a past winner of the Macau Grand Prix.

"I was hopeful of securing a race or test role in Formula 1 last season," Firman says. "Ultimately I was let down and missed any opportunity to race regularly in 2004. That was immensely disappointing, but I enjoyed racing at Le Mans and testing the exciting new A1 Grand Prix car in recent months. My objective is to give Team Honda Racing and the Autobacs Honda NSX the best possible results and also re-establish my career in single seaters for later this year and into 2006."