HH Frentzen

Born: May 5th, 1967, Moenchengladbach, Germany.

Debut: Brazil '94 (Sauber).

GPs contested: 95.

Career wins: 3.

Career pole positions: 2.

Career points: 139.

1999: Points: 50. Wins: 2 (France, Italy).

Form: 2nd, 3rd, Rtd, 4th, Rtd, Rtd, 1st, 4th, 4th, 3rd, 4th, 3rd, 1st, Rtd.

Pole positions: 1 (Europe).

Retirements: 4 (San Marino: spin, Spain: driveshaft, Canada: brakes, Europe: electronic failure).

A heartbreaking electronic failure while leading at the Nurburgring two weeks ago would appear to have put paid to Heinz Harald Frentzen's late charge, but looking at the German's almost robotic consistency and Jordan and Mugen-Honda's never-ending refinement of a car which still, remarkably, looks better by the race, it would be churlish and maybe a little short-sighted to eliminate Frentzen from the equation.

Jordan will run a further developed engine today in qualifying, which for the first time pushes output over 800 bhp and well into McLaren's realm. The engine is expected to be raced in Japan where Jordan and Mugen are confidently expecting a Frentzen win. Couple that with the apparent ironing out at the Nurburgring of the team's problems with high downforce circuits (as Malaysia is) and Frentzen's chances of boarding a flight to Suzuka in joint second place in the championship look better all the time.