BAR Confirm Barrichello for 2006

Barrichello has been strongly tipped to be joining the Brackley-based team following the announcement earlier this month that Felipe Massa would be joining Ferrari next year from Sauber-Petronas.

Barrichello's signing means he is currently the only confirmed driver for next season at BAR, with Jenson Button's ongoing dispute with Williams and Takuma Sato's disappointing form leaving question marks over who will be in the other seat.

Barrichello's career has seen him drive in 212 Grands Prix for Jordan, Stewart and Ferrari, during which time he has amassed nine wins (all for Ferrari), thirteen pole positions and 61 podium finishes, scoring a total of 482 points.

Barrichello was delighted to announce his new partnership with BAR, after six years at Ferrari: "I am very excited to confirm that I will be joining BAR-Honda in 2006. I wish to thank everyone at Ferrari for six fantastic years.

"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.

"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 racesand go on to win World Championships.

"I can't think of anything more exciting than working with the team and Honda to achieve our shared ambitions together. Obviously I have a job to do at Ferrari until the end of the season, but I am very happy about the fantastic times that I know still lie ahead."

BAR's Chief Executive Officer Nick Fry was also happy with Barrichello's signing: "Signing Rubens represents another exciting milestone in BAR-Honda's development and in Rubens' own career. 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.
 
"I would also like to thank Ferrari for all of their cooperation in allowing Rubens to join us next year."