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Ecclestone plays peacemaker in Jordan
dispute
Wednesday, September 9, 1998
Ralf Schumacher
is free to sign with a new team for next season
after Jordan agreed to release the German driver from his contract.
A High Court
hearing was averted when both sides
accepted an agreement brokered by Bernie Ecclestone, head of the
Formula One Constructors' Association.
Ralf Schumacher,
younger brother of former world champion
Michael, now looks likely to join Williams for 1999.
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They
are apparently willing to offer the 23 - year - old a four
- year contract.
A statement issued
by Jordan said: "The parties
have agreed that
the terms of their settlement will remain
confidential. Neither party will make any further announcement or statement
concerning these arrangements.
Schumacher will remain with
Jordan for the final three races as they try to
build on their first - ever success at the Belgian
Grand Prix when he finished second behind teammate Damon Hill.
The team
were involved in a dispute
over
Schumacher's brother
in 1991 when he joined Benetton after
only one race for Jordan, with Ecclestone
again involved in negotiating
a settlement.
Last year they went to the
High Court over Italian driver Giancarlo Fisichella,
only to lose him to Benetton.
Brazilian Pedro
Diniz is a leading candidate to replace Schumacher
at Jordan - a move which would reunite him
with Hill, his former teammate at Arrows.
Heinz - Harald Frentzen
is another possibility, but he is exepected
to rejoin the Sauber team.
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