Honda aiming for winning start in 2006

"We would like to be challenging at the front end right at the start, that's the position we would like to be in," de Ferran told reporters during the launch of the team's new car in Barcelona's Circuit de Catalunya.

"Winter testing will give us some indication of our competitiveness, but we really won't know where everyone stacks up until the curtains open in Bahrain.

"Different people run tests in different ways and certainly, we'll run testing one way and our competitors will do different things. You often see there is teams who do well, it does give some indication, but we'll only find out for sure in Friday free practice where everyone is."

The RA160 is the first Honda works entry since 1968 after the Japanese company took over the BAR team last year.

Honda are committed to returning to winning ways after having clinched several titles as an engine supplies at the end of the 1980s and the start of the 1990s.

"I don't want to underestimate the opposition, there are a lot of smart people in this paddock," added de Ferran, "but for sure Honda's engine expertise is remarkable and they are the largest manufacturer of engines in the world, they know a lot about racing engines. I have a lot of faith in them."

De Ferran, however, expects the competition to be very tough throughout the season.

"I'm not going to say it's the most competitive year ever, but for sure it is going to be a very tough year. I have no reason to believe that McLaren and Renault will have a drop in performance, or at least that's what we assume.

"It will be a very tough year and I think we'll see a lot of different winners."