Barrichello excited about joining Honda

The Brazilian was unable to start work with his new team after the end of last season because he was under contract to Ferrari until the end of 2005.

Now that he is free, he has said he cannot wait to get his first run in a BAR007 at Jerez in Spain next week in a bid to give the team some feedback on where they stand compared to Ferrari.

And Barrichello admits that he is looking forward to the challenge that lies ahead - both for him and the team in developing their RA106.

"The programme for the RA106, our new car, looks good," he told Gazzetta dello Sport. "Now we can only take the car to the track and test it for a long time.

"I'm overjoyed with driving for a new team, and in particular to do it with Honda."

Although Barrichello has left a multiple World Championship winning team for an outfit that have not won a race, he claims that he has no doubts he has made the right move.

"I had never left Ferrari in the past because I always thought there was nothing better," he added.  "Today, however, I'm happy to drive for a new team: now I think there is something better than the Prancing Horse."