Sato sure Aguri can make up for lost time

The Honda-backed team have been forced to miss some tests while they sort out their financial situation - which has limited the amount of development work they have been able to do.

However, after returning to action with their SA07B at Jerez, Sato thinks the team have plenty of time to make up the lost ground.

"It has been hard for us, of course," he told autosport.com. "But we've got over a lot of difficulties in the past few years, and I think this team can make up for the loss we have had in the last few weeks. I hope the next tests will be a success."

Although the team have not been able to test, Super Aguri made progress in working on their SA08, and ensured it passed its FIA crash tests last week.

Sato said that he shared the team's frustrations that they have had to sit on the sidelines in recent weeks, but made it clear he was as motivated as ever to press ahead.

"We are frustrated pretty much, as we could not start the winter test programme as we wished," he said. "But the team is working pretty hard to get everything together, so I am prepared to take this challenge.

"We have always made positives from the negatives. So hopefully at the next test we can pick up some things for Melbourne."

Sato had not yet had his contract for 2008 confirmed by the team, with Super Aguri possibly waiting until the season-opener in Australia to announce their driver line-up.