Richards aims to challenge top three in 2004

Looking for top 3
By pitpass.com (28/10/2003)
October 28 2003

Lucky Strike BAR Honda boss David Richards is convinced that after his team's fifth place in the 2003 Constructors' Championship it is now ready to take on the 'big three', Ferrari, McLaren and WilliamsF1.

"No-one should delude themselves that there is not a big gap to make up," he told the BBC. "But if we can maintain the progress over the winter we can challenge the top three teams in 2004."

Going into the final round of the championship the Brackley based outfit was seventh in the constructors' title race, however a strong - double points scoring - performance from Jenson Button and Takuma Sato saw BAR achieve its best ever championship result, fifth.

"When you look back on a season you tend to focus on the good points and the high spots of the year," the Englishman continued. "But in reflecting on the year I have to really focus on our shortcomings and some of the reliability issues that we have to tackle. For each one there are good lessons that have been learnt on our side and Honda's side."

"Honda are working on the engine, the rules are changing, and I think they should favour us, so I look forward to next year with great enthusiasm," he added. "We never expected this to be an easy challenge and I think this year just serves to reinforce that.

"To finish in Suzuka with both cars in the points, Takuma proving what a great potential he has for the future and Jenson realising he has a role to play as leader of a team, is a great way to finish the year.

"But, clearly, going into the winter months with a lot of work to do in the test programme starting at the end of November, we have not got time to sit back and dwell on 2003, we have to focus on the year ahead and make improvements."

BAR is back in action again on November 25, when it is in action at Barcelona.

This article was written by pitpass.com and is used with permission.