Rubes Barrichello buoyed up by strong Singapore showing

Rubens Barrichello has a chance to put some much-needed gloss on a frustrating first season with Williams after he qualified in sixth place for the Singapore Grand Prix on Saturday. 

The 38-year-old Brazilian led the chasing pack behind the top five drivers in the championship standings, crossing the line 0.846 seconds behind pole sitter Fernando Alonso to register his best qualifying performance of the season.                                           

Williams have struggled in the middle of the pack for most of the season but Saturday's performance will give Barrichello renewed optimism that he can match or improve on his best finishes this year, fourth in Valencia and fifth at Silverstone.                                           

"I must thank the team for bringing new components to this race which have really worked," Barrichello, who has 31 points in the drivers'' championship, told reporters.

"Expectations were pretty high but I think we matched our ambition today and have the basis for a very good race tomorrow."

The floodlit Marina Bay circuit is notoriously difficult to overtake on but Williams technical director Sam Michael believes a higher finishing position on Sunday remains a possibility.

"It was a great qualifying performance from Rubens and it shows that we have this car working really well," Michael said.                                           

"But it's not over yet and a street circuit can throw up many surprises in the race."