Ex-Formula One team owner and media personality Eddie Jordan has died, his family said in a statement. He was 76.
Often known simply as “EJ”, the Irishman ran his own Formula One Jordan team in the 1990s and 2000s.
His humour, strong opinions and often extravagant dress sense made Jordan a popular pundit on TV after selling the team in 2005.
Jordan was undergoing treatment for what he had called “quite aggressive” cancer of the bladder and prostate, which spread to his spine and pelvis.
The family statement, published by rugby club London Irish, where Jordan was a patron, said he “passed away peacefully with family by his side in Cape Town” early on Thursday.
“EJ brought an abundance of charisma, energy and Irish charm everywhere he went,” the statement said.
“We all have a huge hole missing without his presence. He will be missed by so many people, but he leaves us with tonnes of great memories to keep us smiling through our sorrow.”
F1 president and chief executive Stefano Domenicali, who was a senior Ferrari employee when Jordan owned his team, said the Irishman was “a protagonist of an era of F1 and he will be deeply missed”.
“With his inexhaustible energy he always knew how to make people smile, remaining genuine and brilliant at all times,” Domenicali said.
Irish businessman Jordan operated his own racing team in lower-level series before moving up to F1 in 1991, giving future seven-time champion Michael Schumacher his first race that year.
Other drivers over the years included Damon Hill, who won the 1996 championship with Williams, future Ferrari driver Rubens Barrichello, and Heinz-Harald Frentzen, who was third in the championship for Jordan in 1999.
Jordan Grand Prix won four races before Jordan sold the team in 2005. Following more sales and name changes, the team competes as Aston Martin.
“Eddie Jordan was one of the all-time motorsport greats. He was a one-off, a wonderful human being, and a charismatic leader who founded this team and took it to F1 in 1991,” Aston Martin team principal Andy Cowell said in a statement.
“His vision laid the foundations for us and he leaves a lasting legacy for the entire motorsport community.”
Jordan also acted as the manager for car design great Adrian Newey when he left Red Bull for Aston Martin last year.