The colourful and charismatic Ulsterman is without doubt one of the finest racers Britain has produced: quick-witted, fast and unerringly consistent. 'Fast Eddie' had his first taste of international success with a masterful victory in the 1987 Formula Ford Festival. More success followed in Formula 3 and Formula 3000 but, without a competitive Formula 1 drive available, Irvine found fortune in Japan, where he starred in both Formula 3000 and sportscars. Arriving in Formula 1 with Jordan at the 1993 Japanese Grand Prix, Irvine immediately threw down the gauntlet to the F1 establishment by tussling with Ayrton Senna on his way into the points and has never looked back. After blitzing team-mate Rubens Barrichello at Jordan, Irvine hit the big time in 1996 with his move to partner Michael Schumacher at Ferrari. Despite the German's formidable reputation, Irvine began his four-year Ferrari career by beating Schumacher to the podium and went on to build a remarkable score of points and podium finishes, including three memorable victories in his battle for the 1999 world championship. With his talents matured and his style unabashed, Irvine now joins Jaguar Racing at the peak of his form; a proven title contender ready to make the ultimate step. Not a lot of people know that: Eddie drove faster round the old Silverstone circuit in a Formula Ford than the legendary Jim Clark managed in a Formula 1… as Eddie told everyone of course! Grand Prix Record Starts: 97 Poles: 0 Wins: 4 Fastest laps: 1 Podium finishes: 24 Points: 174 Fast Fact Nobody completed more of the 1999 world championship season than Eddie, who ran 4,777km during the season with only one retirement: 98 per cent of the season's race distance.