In the F1 insider's publication the "Red Bulletin" Takuma, Aguri, the pit crew and Super Aguri F1 team all come in for fantastic praise from those in and around the sport.

One of the highlights of a Grand Prix for those taking part is the reading of the on-site newspaper the "Red Bulletin". Produced up to three times every race weekend, the newspaper in a sometimes funny, sometimes serious, way comments on the sport. It isn't always comfortable reading for those team / drivers featured, but it is always popular with the drivers, mechanics and team management alike.

At Brazil, it was time for the 2006 F1 Awards and Super Aguri members excelled!

Man of the Year : Aguri Suzuka

Unsung Hero of the Year : Takuma Sato

2nd place in Team of the Year : Super Aguri F1

2nd place Pit Crew of the Year :  Super Aguri F1

Fans of the Year : Suzuka

You can read the Brazillian post-race edition here

These awards are every bit as important as BAFTAs because they are the opinion of those who work in the sport, not just some has-been journalist or driver turned writer. They make it clear just how well the team and Taku are thought of in the pit lane. What an excellent double-whammy end of the year ... great performance, and great recognition. Sweet.

Quotes from that edition include 

THE RED BULLETIN AWARDS 2006

MAN OF THE YEAR
AGURI SUZUKI
“Jean Todd, Flavio Briatori, Mario Theissen? All had interesting seasons but none we felt deserved the big accolade. No, for sheer perseverance, bravery and a workaholic nature that makes your average journalist look like, er, your average journalist (i.e. possessing about as much get up and go as a sloth with M.E.) the award must go to the very super Aguri Suzuki. There will always be a sniff of favouritism in Suzuki’s elevation but he still had to make it work. He’s traded well on his team’s Japanese heritage, built a solid engineering base in Oxfordshire, fielded drivers of charm and enthusiasm and moulded the lot into that most crucial of F1 must haves - a loveable underdog. And this in the age of $300 million plus annual budgets.
With more support from Honda, next year’s car could spring a midfield surprise or two. And we’re looking forward to it. For giving us back “the little team that could”, step forward Aguri Suzuki, man of the year.”


UNSUNG HERO
TAKUMA SATO
“Taking a driver from a big team and putting them in a little one often backfires. Frustration leads to indifference or recklessness. But for Takuma Sato, the opposite has been true. What Super Aguri needed was time on track, and Taku has given them that. He’s emphasised the positive , motivated the garage and waited for the car to come to him. On the track, he’s shown the raw pace that made him an F3 champion and pummelled his three team-mates in qualifying. He has even taken the fight to the front.
Aguri Suzuki and Daniele Audetto take most of the credit for transforming Super Aguri but Sato has played his part to perfection”