BAR look to Ferrari's home track for breakthrough

Struggling BAR are looking to Ferrari's home track to fire up their stalled Formula One campaign.

The Honda-powered team, runners-up to Michael Schumacher's Ferrari last season, have yet to reach the finish in three races so far this year.

Team boss Nick Fry said BAR were 'disappointed but not downhearted' with the situation and confident they could turn it around in the San Marino Grand Prix at Imola's Enzo and Dino Ferrari circuit on April 24.

"We're going to Imola extremely hopeful," he said after Briton Jenson Button and Japan's Takuma Sato retired with mechanical problems in Bahrain on Sunday.

Button took his first Formula One pole position at Imola last year and finished second behind seven-times champion Schumacher.

"We've got the opportunity to change engines again if we want to and we've got an aero package upgrade which is pretty big in testing this week, which looks promising," said Fry.

"These things can turn round on a sixpence. I think Toyota also have proved that, with a very poor performance in Australia and two extremely good performances subsequently."

Toyota, Honda's big Japanese rivals, have had two podium finishes in a row after three seasons as championship tail-enders.

BAR took 11 podiums last year but started 2005 controversially, withdrawing Button and Sato for strategic reasons in Melbourne before suffering engine troubles in Malaysia.

"We still remain optimistic and we've got 16 more chances to win a race," said Fry.

"Fundamentally the team's in good shape. There's a lot of strength, a lot of depth. Sunday has been another disappointing day but onwards and upwards."

Champions Ferrari have also struggled, with Schumacher scoring just two points after winning the first five races last year and 13 out of 18.

"Without wishing to dwell on other people's problems, they seem to have as many if not more than us," said Fry.

"It's somewhat ironic that the first and second in the championship last year should be the ones having the most problems this year.

"It's sport at the end of the day... it doesn't take much to switch it around. We'll get there."

Sato retired in Bahrain with brake problems, the front left overheating dramatically with the pad disintegrating under soaring temperatures. Button suffered a clutch problem at the last pitstop, when the engine stalled.

"We've had three years on a steadily increasing trend and we're always aware, and we warned the staff, that when you start to play with the big boys it gets tough," said Fry of the championship. "But clearly we'd like to have done better."