Barrichello impressed by BAR ambition

Rubens Barrichello believes new team BAR-Honda can match his ambition to challenge Ferrari, the team he has left to join them.

The 33-year-old Sao Paolo-born driver has finally tired of playing second fiddle to Michael Schumacher and quit Ferrari a year before his contract expired, taking up a multi-year contract at BAR for 2006 onwards.

With number-two status behind him, Barrichello aims to prove he has the talent to join Schumacher on the list of Formula One world champions.

“I have been watching BAR-Honda’s progress for some time and have been struck by the spirit and determination of a team that has all the right ingredients to win races and go on to win world championships,” Barrichello said.

“I can’t think of anything more exciting than working with the team and Honda to achieve our shared ambitions together.

“I wish to thank everyone at Ferrari for six fantastic years,” the former Stewart and Jordan driver said.

“I have won many races with them and I am proud to have helped the team, to date, to win five constructors’ world championships. However my target remains winning the drivers’ title and to achieve that I felt that I needed a renewed motivation.”

Barrichello has an impressive record at helping young teams to landmark achievements, having guided Jordan to their first pole position and Stewart to their first pole and podium finish.

Now he faces a similar task at BAR, where he will be expected to succeed where Jenson Button has so far failed and deliver a maiden grand-prix victory.

BAR chief executive Nick Fry believes the signing of a proven winner in Barrichello will lift his team nearer the front-runners and closer to their goal of winning a world title.

“Signing Rubens represents another exciting milestone in BAR-Honda’s development and in Rubens’ own career,” he said.

“This is a strong and successful team that is determined to achieve its world championship ambitions and we are confident that these will be realised soon.

“Rubens is not only an excellent driver, but he has the experience of building a race and championship winning team and these skills are very important as we work to take BAR-Honda to the next level.

“The fact that we have developed so quickly to become an attractive proposition to drivers of Rubens’ standing is a fantastic credit to the team.

“We are delighted that Rubens recognises our enormous potential and wishes to help us realise our dream in the not too distant future.”

Barrichello’s team-mate at BAR in 2006 is yet to be confirmed. Button wants to stay on at Brackley but has a contract with Williams which he has so far failed to escape from.

Takuma Sato enjoys significant support from Honda but his lacklustre form this year means his seat is under threat and BAR could opt to replace him even if Button leaves for Williams, with Nick Heidfeld a possibility.