Irvine's sister Sonia resigns.

Posted 16/12/1999

Sonia Irvine leaves job as Eddie's physio

Eddie Irvine's sister Sonia has shocked her younger brother by leaving her job as his personal physio.

Sonia has acted as the 34-year-old's personal physio and has also helped out with managing the driver during his four-year stint at Ferrari.

Irvine's business manager Enrico Zanarini confirmed Sonia had left her job with Motorsport Management. He said: "Sonia has resigned. She wants to do something else and have change in her life. I tried to keep her but she wanted to go. She was fed up with the pressure and didn't enjoy the work she was doing."

The strain of working for Irvine during his championship year has led Sonia to the decision to move on.

Sonia said: "I was with Eddie for four years at Ferrari and, with him going to Jaguar, I felt it was time to move on. Eddie understands. We are hoping to spend Christmas together."

Meanwhile Irvine was on excellent form when he appeared on the Jeremy Clarkson show yesterday. Answering accusations from the former Top Gear presenter that F1 had become boring Irvine retorted: " Have you seen a ChampCar race lately! They're passing each other and passing each other, It's so very boring. It's like going fishing and catching 55 fish!

"I think last year was fantastic. I think there is a different type of entertainment going on. How many times this year have you been able to predict what was going to happen."

On Jaguar the Ulsterman was equally forthcoming: "I don't think Jaguar can ever be as big as Ferrari, but they can be the next best thing. Jaguar can be sexy."