Eddie Jordan, the former racing driver, Formula 1 team owner and Top Gear TV host, has died at the age of 76. The popular, charismatic and hugely influential F1 figure passed away following a year-long battle with prostate cancer.
“It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Eddie Jordan OBE the ex-Formula 1 team owner, TV pundit, and entrepreneur,” a statement from his family said. “He passed away peacefully with family by his side in Cape Town in the early hours of 20 March 2025 at the age of 76, after battling with an aggressive form of prostate cancer for the past 12 months.
“EJ brought an abundance of charisma, energy, and Irish charm everywhere he went. We all have a huge hole missing without his presence. He will be missed by so many people, but he leaves us with tons of great memories to keep us smiling through our sorrow.”
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Jordan’s racing career took off in 1970 when he experienced karts for the first time after transferring to Jersey from Dublin. He would go on to win various karting and Formula Ford races, and later the Formula Atlantic Championship.
He raced in Formula 3, Formula 2, briefly tested a McLaren F1 car, and also raced in sports cars when he teamed up with the Pink Floyd BMW team to champion a Le Mans car in the WSCC.
However, it was Jordan’s nous as a team owner and talent spotter that really put him on the map. Following a number of racing accidents, he went into management and set up Eddie Jordan Racing, famously giving Ayrton Senna his first-ever test back in 1982. He would go on to win with Johnny Herbert and Jean Alesi, before graduating to Formula 1 following the creation of the Jordan Grand Prix team in 1991. And in that first season, Jordan swapped in a young Michael Schumacher for the Belgian GP.
In 1998, Jordan signed F1 champion Damon Hill—himself having raced in Jordan’s F3000 program—and in 1999, he enjoyed its most successful season, finishing third in the contructors’ championship.
After selling his team in 2005, Jordan then became a pundit for the BBC’s Formula 1 coverage, later for Channel 4, and in 2016, explored his love of cars when he became one of the hosts of the Top Gear TV show.
“I had a little Mini 1000—a Mini Cooper,” he told Top Gear back in 2016. “I lowered the suspension and put it on little magnesium wheels. It also had a small little leather steering wheel, a bucket seat for me, and a straight-through exhaust. I loved it.”
And when asked about his favorite F1 driver, he replied: “Totally biased. Ayrton Senna by a mile. He was just an awesome character—calm, very kind, and warm. I was once driven by Ayrton from the center of Sao Paolo out to the airport. That was something special. He was an amazing man. I loved him.”
F1 boss Stefano Domenicali said: “We are deeply saddened to hear about the sudden loss of Eddie Jordan. With his inexhaustible energy, he always knew how to make people smile, remaining genuine and brilliant at all times. Eddie has been a protagonist of an era of F1 and he will be deeply missed.
“In this moment of sorrow, my thoughts and those of the entire Formula 1 family are with his family and loved ones.”
Writing on X, former Jordan GP racer and Sky Sports F1 pundit Martin Brundle said: “RIP my friend. Condolences to each and every one of your lovely family. What a character. What a rock star. What a racer. So many drivers owe you so much, you gave us our chances and believed in us.”
1996 F1 world champion Damon Hill said: “We’re all very sad and shocked. We knew Eddie was fighting the disease and while we knew it was serious, we thought there might be a chance he would win, but sadly, he has lost that. There will never be another like Eddie Jordan.
“My thoughts go to the Jordan family who are lovely people. Eddie was a huge influence on me and many people in motorsport and around the world, there will never be another like him.”
NOTE: This article first appeared on TopGear.com. Minor edits have been made.
