BMW chief remains focused on maiden victory.

BMW motorsport director Mario Theissen says that his team remains focused on securing a maiden Formula 1 win this season ahead of the opening round of the year in Melbourne.

The team heads into the Australian Grand Prix eager to build on its second place in the constructors' championship last season - albeit a second place secured following the exclusion of McLaren from the standings.

However, pre-season hasn't been easy for the team, with the F1.08 having had a troubled start to life on track. Indifferent testing form has been allied to balance issues that have led to complaints from both Nick Heidfeld and Robert Kubica, but that has all been part of the 'calculated risks' the team has taken in an effort to close the gap to Ferrari and McLaren.

With that in mind, Theissen said he felt the team was heading in the right direction going into the opening race and remained confident that a first win is still a realistic aim for 2008 - despite the problems.

"During the winter we consciously opted for a change in concept for the BMW Sauber F1.08," he said. "To be able to catch up with the teams ahead of us we had to go for an aggressive approach.

"The reliability of the new car has been very good from the outset. We have also learnt that a car with a lot of potential is harder to control at the start than a more amenable car that reaches its limits far more quickly. For us it's now a case of forging ahead with the fine-tuning. Since the roll-out, I believe we are on a good path.

"Our ambitious target for 2008 remains unchanged: this year we want to close the gap to the leaders and win our first race."

Theissen was also quick to point out that Australia was the scene of one of the teams strongest performances last season and said it was only when the track action kicks off that everyone will really know where they stand.

"We are pleased that Australia is kicking off the season again in 2008," he said. "There's always a very special atmosphere in Melbourne. The city just throbs, the spectators are all smitten with the Formula One bug, and everyone looks forward to the first test of strength with excited anticipation.

"Last year it turned out that we achieved our best qualifying result of the season at the curtain-raiser in Albert Park. Nick started from third place, Robert from fifth. The first race weekend always brings the moment of truth. That's when we find out where everyone stands."