'In the four years that I have been closely associated with Jordan,' says Putt, 'I've never been more excited at the prospect. Honda are asking all the right questions and, if we are going to deliver in Formula One, then we will have to answer those questions positively - and I believe we will.'

Putt makes his judgment based on 21 years experience in the automotive supply industry, working with Honda since 1981, and also with Nissan and Toyota. Since 1998 he has been working for Management Consultants, McKinsey & Company, as Director of its Production System Design Centre, an internal training school specialising in optimising performance in people and processes. Putt has joined Jordan on a part-time basis, becoming full time when his contract with McKinsey ends in February 2001.

That will just over 10 years to the day he was first introduced to Eddie Jordan by a mutual friend when they met on a street in Oxford. Putt had no interest in motor racing but the growing friendship with Eddie meant his team's progress in its first year of F1 became the subject of regular Sunday TV viewing in the Putt household. The 1992 British Grand Prix would mark John's first visit to a motor race and, the more he learned, the more intrigued he became.

Putt sold his business in 1994 and was retained as a consultant by the new owners. He was free to answer a request in 1996 when Jordan asked for advice on one particular aspect of the team's business, Putt then spending two years helping create a more open management structure.

'In June 1998, I moved on to do something else,' says Putt. 'I left Jordan in reasonably safe hands but made it clear that I could be contacted if further help was required.
'Because of the way the company was expanding and developing, coupled with a difficult season in 2000, there were an increasing number of distractions for Eddie and Trevor (Foster, Jordan's Managing Director). I was invited to carry out a review and I highlighted the need for a Chief Executive Officer, primarily to allow Eddie to expand his role within the commercial side of the organisation, and Trevor to continue his primary role of overseeing the team's racing performance.
'It was a recommendation; I was not putting myself forward for the job. But, when Eddie called and asked when I would be prepared to start, I gave it serious thought! Now I can wait to get started.

'On top of the vast potential which I have mentioned, the Warburg Pincus partnership gives us security in depth, both financial and advisory. This, coupled with Honda, gives Jordan a credibility which hasn't existed before.

'Jordan is major player now and we are very, very serious about delivering. And there is no one more serious than Eddie. I have seen so many plateaus at Jordan. Eddie has grasped every opportunity, and this is another one. There are very exciting times ahead for Jordan Grand Prix and I'm really pleased to be a part of them.'