F1: Eddie Jordan, former Formula One team boss, dies at 76

Former Formula One team boss Eddie Jordan passed away at the age of 76, his family said in a statement on Thursday.

The Ireland-born Jordan initially climbed the ladder as a budding racer, tasting success in the Irish Kart Championship and taking part in categories such as Formula Ford, Formula 3 and Formula 2, as well as the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

He then turned his attention to team ownership, running the Jorrdan Grand Prix unit from 1991 to 2005.

Jordan famously gave Michael Schumacher his F1 debut during the 1991 campaign, with many other big-name drivers – including the likes of Martin Brundle, Damon Hill and Jean Alesi — racing for the team.

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Hill scored Jordan’s first Grand Prix victory at the 1998 Belgian Grand Prix, with teammate Ralf Schumacher following him home to make it a 1-2 and complete a landmark result for the team.

He sold his team in 2005 and dropped off the gird only to return a few years later in another role.

He became a television pundit and entrepreneur for the BBC’s F1 coverage, and took on a similar F1 role at Channel 4, and running a popular podcast – Formula For Success – with former BBC colleague David Coulthard.

“EJ brought an abundance of charisma, energy and Irish charm everywhere he went. We all have a huge hole missing without his presence,” the family said in the statement.