Manor is targeting the Belgian Grand Prix for the debut of its updated 2015 car.
The backmarker team is currently running a modified version of its 2014 car with a year-old version of the Ferrari power unit. Its drivers are now consistently within the 107% rule in qualifying, but still up to seven seconds off the pace of the very front of the field.
The team has been working on a 2015 car since last year but the project was significantly delayed when it went into administration and very nearly dropped out of F1 altogether.
"Our aim has always been for the August break," Manor team principal John Booth said. "As with arriving in Australia it is a very aggressive target and will take a lot of achieving. But when we get back from these first four flyaway races we just really need to sit down and see if we can bring all the areas together that need bringing together to achieve that in that time frame."
The team was resurrected over the winter with fresh investment from Ovo Energy founder Stephen Fitzpatrick, but in the first four races the cars have still run without any major sponsorship. However, Booth is confident the existing investment is enough to keep the team running for several years.
"I'm sure there are prospects but we have a commercial plan that we're comfortable is sustainable for our model and we're confident in the investors we have now or the owner we have now to take us forward over the next few years."