Sao Paulo (Brazil), Apr 04: Brazilian Rubens Barrichello insisted winning his home race here Sunday would be like claiming the world championship. Ferrari driver Barrichello has never had fortune on his side at Interlagos after failing to finish the Brazilian grand prix on the last eight occasions.
And he said yesterday that winning the event, rather than just finally completing the full race distance, is his goal, to score an emotional victory in front of his home crowd.
Victory in his homeland, he explained, would give him "the same feeling as winning the world championship.
"Winning my home race would be like that. I'm focussed, I'm better than ever and I hope that, together with my team, I can do the job this time."
Statistics are on Barrichello's side in this 2003 season because Brazilians have won this grand prix in 1973, 1983 and 1993.



He is hopeful this will be his year as he aims to follow in the footsteps of Emerson Fittipaldi, Nelson Piquet and Ayrton Senna by taking the chequered flag first.


Bureau Report