Button: new BAR a big step

Speaking via a live satellite link from the Circuit de Catalunya to visitors to the Autosport International show on Saturday, Button couldn't hide his enthusiasm for the work the team has done over the winter prior to the car's public unveiling.

"I'm very excited," he said. "Someone needs to take the fight to Ferrari and I am really looking forward for it. We cannot wait to get out there on the circuit.

"What do we expect? I think it is a big step forward from last season and the rule changes have changed the appearance of the car - the front wing being a lot higher and the rear wing a lot deeper."

BAR's championship hopes this year will be boosted by the fact that its engine partner Honda has reaffirmed its commitment to winning by buying a stake in the outfit. And Button is as confident about the latest engine as he is about its chassis.

"It is a very important year for Honda," he said. "Having engines last for two race meetings is a big step, but we have done a lot of testing and it has been very good. It has been very reliable and we have done a lot of laps each day.

"We are going in the right direction; we have still got work to do on power, weight and reliability but we are getting there."

Visitors to the Autosport International show on Sunday will be treated to a first glimpse of the new BAR, with the car's launch being beamed live to the Autosport Central Stage.