David Richards expects BAR to challenge more often this season

Richards succeeded BAR founder Craig Pollock at the helm the day before the launch of the 2002 car.

The team finished eighth in the constructors' championship last year, with seven points, while undergoing a complete overhaul of their operation.

Now Richards believes that process is complete and is looking for an immediate improvement in on-track performance.

We have a far better organised team than 12 months ago - it's almost like a start all over again David Richards BAR boss

"It was a pretty bad mess," Richards said of the situation he found at the start of the 2002 season.

"It was [run by] a group of people that had wonderful ambition, a great dream, but no idea how to get there.

"The last 12 months has really been putting this team back on track and getting their feet firmly planted on the ground.

"We have a far tighter, better organised team than we had 12 months ago and, as we go into this year, it's almost like a start all over again."

BAR launch crucial season

Richards expects Ferrari to be the dominant force in F1 yet again this season.

But he is hopeful his driver line-up of 1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve and new team-mate Jenson Button can put BAR among the best of the rest.

"I believe we have made a very significant step forward," said Richards.

"Whether we are a match on occasion for Ferrari - and I think it will be very much on occasion - we will have to wait and see."