A philosophical Anthony Davidson is refusing to let the problems that have beset Super Aguri over the winter cast a shadow over the opening weekend of the season.
The team's immediate future was only secured in the past few days after an agreement to be taken over by Magma Group - an automotive solutions company based in the UK - was finalised.
However, the off-season turmoil has meant the Japanese marque were only able carry out limited testing ahead of the opening Grand Prix in Melbourne.
Davidson is therefore under no illusions that Sunday's 58-lap contest around Albert Park will be a test of patience and endurance as he is likely to be some way off the pace.
But be that as it may, the 28-year-old is convinced better times are just around the corner.
"You don't normally come racing to make up the numbers but we're here to just finish the race - that pretty much is our main goal," he said.
"We've had a lot of problems with the car's reliability and our main concern is just getting through the race because, as Mark Webber proved a few years ago, you can sometimes get a result.
"It's a team sport and I'm part of that team and you work together to move on up the grid.
"We moved up one place last year and hopefully will move up a few more this year. It's not looking great at the moment, we're massively on the back foot and we're just glad to have made it here.
"But there's really no other series like it in the world in terms of competitiveness and as soon as you understand that, you're not depressed about lack of performance.
"Every race, hopefully, we're going to be more and more competitive. Improving race by race is really the aim and the target must be scoring points by the end of the year."
Davidson, who made his Formula One debut last season with Super Aguri after a stint as a test driver for Honda, insists the experience he gained in 2007 will help him through what he expects to be a difficult second campaign.
He said: "I know everyone in the team obviously, and for your confidence that's really good, but what I will take from last season into this is to never really doubt yourself because you know what you did last year.
"You can have tough days like this but you know you're going to have good days as well and the team will pull together and we will improve.
"I know this isn't where this team belongs and how we normally perform so I know that's in the back of your mind and it's in everyone's interest that the team stay positive - and I know they will."
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