In a flamboyant life on and off the track, he would go on to amass an estimated £462million fortune from F1, gaming, property and entertainment.
He died yesterday aged 76 after battling aggressive prostate cancer.
Tributes flooded in to the ex-bank clerk turned Irish karting champion, who transformed the world of F1.
Widow Marie and their four children said in a statement: "He will be missed by so many people. But he leaves us with tons of great memories to keep us smiling through our sorrow."
Former champion Damon Hill, who won the first F1 race for the Jordan team, said: "There will never be another like Eddie. He was irreverent, crazy.
"He gave a huge amount to charity and he never stopped. He never wasted a single second of his life." Former racing driver and broadcaster Martin Brundle added: "What a rock star. What a racer."
Eddie first experienced motor racing in Guernsey, where he spent the summer of 1970.
A banking strike in Dublin meant he could not work. On his return to Ireland, he bought a kart and won the Irish championship at his first attempt in 1971.
He moved into motor racing in 1974, first into Formula Ford and then Formula 3, only to badly break a leg in a crash in 1976.
In hospital, his hair fell out and his mum Eileen bought him a wig. He later never appeared in public without one.
Jordan's self-titled team competed between 1991 and 2005 and entered 250 races in F1, winning four times.
He gave Michael Schumacher his first race in F1, before he moved quickly to Benetton. A keen musician, Eddie had many famous friends including Sex Pistol Johnny Rotten, and he enjoyed meeting Paul McCartney at the 2011 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
He played drums in a band called Eddie & The Robbers, a nod to his reputation as a colourful businessman.
"He was working until the last, having communicated on St Patrick's Day about his ambitions for London Irish Rugby Football Club, of which he had recently become patron," his family added in their tribute.
"Eddie and Jordan Grand Prix were known for their rock'n'roll image, bringing a fun and exciting element to F1, as well as consistently performing above their weight. EJ brought an abundance of charisma, energy and Irish charm everywhere he went.
"We all have a huge hole missing without his presence."
A No10 spokesman said PM Keir Starmer's thoughts...
He died yesterday aged 76 after battling aggressive prostate cancer.
Tributes flooded in to the ex-bank clerk turned Irish karting champion, who transformed the world of F1.
Widow Marie and their four children said in a statement: "He will be missed by so many people. But he leaves us with tons of great memories to keep us smiling through our sorrow."
Former champion Damon Hill, who won the first F1 race for the Jordan team, said: "There will never be another like Eddie. He was irreverent, crazy.
"He gave a huge amount to charity and he never stopped. He never wasted a single second of his life." Former racing driver and broadcaster Martin Brundle added: "What a rock star. What a racer."
Eddie first experienced motor racing in Guernsey, where he spent the summer of 1970.
A banking strike in Dublin meant he could not work. On his return to Ireland, he bought a kart and won the Irish championship at his first attempt in 1971.
He moved into motor racing in 1974, first into Formula Ford and then Formula 3, only to badly break a leg in a crash in 1976.
In hospital, his hair fell out and his mum Eileen bought him a wig. He later never appeared in public without one.
Jordan's self-titled team competed between 1991 and 2005 and entered 250 races in F1, winning four times.
He gave Michael Schumacher his first race in F1, before he moved quickly to Benetton. A keen musician, Eddie had many famous friends including Sex Pistol Johnny Rotten, and he enjoyed meeting Paul McCartney at the 2011 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
He played drums in a band called Eddie & The Robbers, a nod to his reputation as a colourful businessman.
"He was working until the last, having communicated on St Patrick's Day about his ambitions for London Irish Rugby Football Club, of which he had recently become patron," his family added in their tribute.
"Eddie and Jordan Grand Prix were known for their rock'n'roll image, bringing a fun and exciting element to F1, as well as consistently performing above their weight. EJ brought an abundance of charisma, energy and Irish charm everywhere he went.
"We all have a huge hole missing without his presence."
A No10 spokesman said PM Keir Starmer's thoughts...
You're reading a preview of
Daily Record (Digital) - 1 Issue, March 21, 2025