VALENCIA, Spain, (Reuters) – Brazilian Rubens  Barrichello ended five years of frustration yesterday with an  emotional victory for championship leaders Brawn GP in the  European Grand Prix.

Barrichello, whose last victory was with Ferrari in China in  September 2004, beat McLaren’s world champion Lewis Hamilton by  2.3 seconds on a sizzling afternoon at the Valencia street  circuit.

“I wish this moment could last forever. I want to stay here  until Monday,” said the 37-year-old, who sobbed in his helmet as  he took the chequered flag for Brawn’s seventh win in 11 starts.

Hamilton had led from pole, with Barrichello qualifying  third on a heavier fuel load, but his hopes of winning for the  second race in a row went out of the window when his team  bungled the second pitstop.

Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen finished third.

Championship leader Jenson Button, Barrichello’s team mate,  laboured to seventh place after a shocking start but,  astonishingly, saw his overall lead trimmed by just half a point  to 18 with six races left.

The Briton now has 72 to Barrichello’s 54 and 51.5 for Red  Bull’s Australian Mark Webber. Mercedes-powered Brawn have 126  points in the constructors’ standings, with Red Bull on 98.5.

BADOER LAST

Webber finished out of the points in ninth place while  German team mate Sebastian Vettel retired with a blown engine  after a similar failure in pre-race practice. He has 47 points.

Barrichello’s victory was the 10th of a career that started  in 1993 and the Brazilian, the oldest driver on the grid until  Luca Badoer was drafted in at Ferrari to replace the injured  Felipe Massa, was ecstatic.

“It’s fantastic,” said the Brazilian, whose career had  looked to be over when Brawn’s predecessors Honda pulled out in  December. “It’s been a weekend I will never forget.

“After five years you don’t forget how to win but it’s  tough. There was a lot going through my mind,” added the  Brazilian, racing with a message of support on his helmet for  friend and compatriot Massa.