Apr.18 (GMM) Rubens Barrichello this week confirmed that he is seeking a new contract to keep racing beyond 2008.

The formula one veteran's current deal with Honda expires at the end of the season.

According to F1's official website, the 35-year-old matched Riccardo Patrese's all time record of 256 race starts in Bahrain recently.

But even though he will begin establishing a new benchmark in Barcelona next weekend and beyond, the Brazilian said he is not planning to hang up his helmet any time soon.

"I would like to go on for as long as I can," Barrichello is quoted as telling the Schweriner Volkszeitung newspaper.

He said he wants to stay at Honda rather than go on the market for the 2009 season.

"It is no secret that my contract expires at the end of the year," Barrichello added. "I want to extend it,

because I think that with Ross Brawn a new and promising era has begun at Honda.

"2008 is definitely not my last season; now I want to finish with more than 300 grands prix," he said.

Barrichello also revealed that, following Honda's updated RA108 package for Barcelona, the next major revision will be unveiled at the British grand prix in July.

It is reported that, after Silverstone, Honda's focus will then shift entirely to the 2009 car.