Honda aim to challenge for F1 title in 2006

Honda intend to be fighting for the Formula One title next year after assuming complete control of winless BAR.

"This year's priority was for Honda to get back to winning races but, unfortunately, we didn't fulfil that objective," said Honda Racing Development president Yasuhiro Wada earlier this week.

"Next year we'd like to start challenging for the championship and we would like to start winning as soon as possible. That's what we'll be pushing for in 2006," he told the Honda website.

BAR finished the season sixth overall after ending 2004 as runners-up to Ferrari.

The Japanese carmaker decided to raise its stake in BAR, who failed to win a race in seven seasons, from 45 per cent to 100 this year and will rename the team for the 2006 campaign.

Briton Jenson Button and Brazilian Rubens Barrichello, the latter a race winner signed from former champions Ferrari, will be their drivers.

Wada said the takeover would mean closer coordination between the technical teams in Britain and Japan and more resources.

"Last season was a bit disappointing and it's fair to say that we struggled to overcome the 2005 aerodynamic regulations and never managed to get the best out of our Michelin tyres," said Wada.

"But by the end of the season our engine was really strong and very reliable. There's no doubt we have the capability to win, we just have to harness all potential areas for improvement."

Formula One is moving from V10 engines to V8s next year and Wada hoped that would be a big opportunity for Honda.