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The 2008 Formula One season marks a historic milestone for the Honda Racing F1 Team’s Rubens Barrichello.

Following a long and distinguished career, which began at the 1993 South African Grand Prix, Rubens will become the most experienced Formula One driver of all time, surpassing the current record of 256 Grands Prix set by Riccardo Patrese in 1993.

In view of the lack of consensus regarding which specific race marks Rubens’ 257th Grand Prix, Rubens will celebrate the milestone of 257 Grand Prix appearances at the Turkish Grand Prix on 11 May 2008. Heading into this race, Rubens will have 16 seasons of competition at the pinnacle of motorsport under his belt, in which he has achieved nine race wins, 61 podiums and 13 pole positions. As a result of an accident in Friday qualifying, Rubens did not qualify or race at San Marino in 1994, however he did line up on the grid in Belgium in 1998 and in Spain and France in 2002, despite encountering difficulties which then prevented him from taking part in these races.

Rubens began his Formula One career with the Jordan team at the South African Grand Prix on 14 March 1993, racing against such legends as Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost. He spent four years with Jordan before moving to Stewart Grand Prix for the 1997 season. After three years with Stewart, Rubens joined Ferrari in 2000 to partner Michael Schumacher and begin his association with Honda Team Principal Ross Brawn, then Technical Director at the Ferrari team. Rubens spent six years at Ferrari, achieving nine Grand Prix wins and helping the team to five Constructors’ Championships.

In 2006, Rubens joined the Honda Racing F1 Team where he has enjoyed a three-year partnership with Jenson Button and has recently been ‘reunited’ with Ross Brawn, who joined Honda as Team Principal in November 2007. Rubens and Jenson, along with Test & Reserve Driver Alex Wurz, currently form the most experienced driver line-up in Formula One.

Rubens Barrichello F1 Highlights (as of Bahrain GP 2008)