OCTOBER 14, 1996

Barrichello for Stewart

RUBENS BARRICHELLO has signed to join the Stewart Grand Prix team.

RUBENS BARRICHELLO has signed to join the Stewart Grand Prix team. The news is yet to be announced but the 24-year-old Brazilian is rumored to have agreed to a three-year deal to partner Danish rising star Jan Magnussen in Ford's new factory team.

Barrichello has been with Jordan since the start of 1993, but for the last couple of years has failed to turn his initial promise into big results and some Jordan team members have lost faith in him. His best showings to date have been a second place in Montreal last year and a pole position at Spa in 1994 in a wet/dry lottery of qualifying.

Rubens has struggled when he is under pressure but he is still very young and clearly does have a lot of talent if it can be properly harnessed.

Joining Stewart is a risk for Rubens but a long-term contract and support for the team from Ford should ensure some decent results in the long term.