Monday March 20th, 2000

Rubens Barrichello said on Monday pressure from home fans would not affect him the way it plagued compatriot Ayrton Senna during grands prix in Brazil.

The 27-year-old Ferrari driver told Reuters TV he was relishing the challenge of returning home with his new team for the Interlagos race this weekend.

"The Brazilian Grand Prix is what I'm really waiting for. It's something that I'm dreaming of," he said.

"I have a competitive car and can cope with it and to win in Brazil would be one of the best things in the world."

Barichello claimed the weight of Brazilian expectations had always bothered Senna, who died in a crash at Imola in 1994.

But the way the triple world champion had reacted after he eventually triumphed on home soil shaped Barichello's attitude.

"Ayrton took so many years in a competitive car to win in Brazil.

"When he finally won, it was such a moment for him and it was such a relief. I think that moment taught me quite a lot."

Barrichello is bidding to be the first Brazilian to win on home soil since Senna in 1993.

Barrichello, who finished second behind team mate Michael Schumacher in the opening round of this year's championship in Australia, said his move to Ferrari had not only been "emotional" but fulfilled a childhood dream.

"I remember when I was eight and driving a go-kart at Interlagos when I heard this strange noise going by.

"I jumped the wall and saw this Ferrari V12 and since that day I've always had that noise in my mind.

"So it was pretty emotional when I first went to Fiorano and I saw my name written on that red car."

He said he believed the Brazilian public "had gone mad" and this weekend's grand prix was sold out, with organisers having to provide extra seating to satisfy demand.