BAR Honda has officially announced that Rubens Barrichello will be joining the team in a multi-year deal from 2006.

Rubens joins BAR Honda from Scuderia Ferrari where he has been part of the team which has won five Formula One Constructors' World Championships in the last five years.

Since his F1 debut in 1993, Rubens has driven for Stewart Grand Prix, Jordan and Ferrari, and amassed 482 Drivers' Championship points from his participation in 212 grands prix. Rubens has won nine races and has scored 61 podium positions.

Rubens Barrichello: "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 races and 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."

Nick Fry, Chief Executive Officer, BAR Honda: "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."

Yasuhiro Wada, President, Honda Racing Development: "BAR Honda are very much looking forward to working with a driver of the experience and talent of Rubens Barrichello. We are sure that the proven track record Rubens brings with him will be of great benefit toward achieving our goal of winning the F1 World Championship."