2006 has been a memorable year for me, and I guess for a lot of Taku and SAF1 fans.

To be an F1 fan you have to have learnt to cope with the high and low moments that this mad sport thows at us. We started the year not knowing whether a team brought together in super-fast time, using a four year-old car could even start the season.

As is the way in F1, the team was allowed a little bit of lattitude but there is always a sting in the tail. Yes they could race - BUT there were certain conditions. One of the conditions was that SAF1 could not recruit people from other teams in this first year ... so even if the MF1 boys wanted to join SAF1 team, they could not.

Bahrain came and we were all amazed. Two cars racing and racing well considering the odds that were against them.

Early races saw everyone relieved at a car finishing, and to the credit of Taku, his car finished more often than perhaps it would have in another driver's hands. Taku goes back on the track whenever he can - in one race, he was driving with a steering wheel very badly (90 degrees) out of position. Every lap gains data which go to help improve the car, and Taku always gets lots of data.

The middle of the season hit hard, and problems seem to hit the team. Four races in a row Canada, US, France and Germany all saw big problems for us.

For me there was one weekend which seemed worse than the others - Italy. I hated that race, that weekend.

But then came China, Japan and Brazil. As though written as a TV drama, these last races saw Taku go from strength to strength. He was disqualified in China, finished well in Suzuka - but broke all expectations in Brazil. Tenth place ahead of two Toyota's, two Torro Rosso's and a Red Bull!  Sakon recorded the 7th-fastest lap of the race.

At one point of the Brazillian race - and for several laps - Taku was lapping faster than anyone else other than race leader Massa. It was a joy to behold, and showed just what a superb effort car and driver had made. The team celebrated as hard as any other team that day - and received a congratulatory visit from the World Champions Renault pit crew.

2007 has a lot to live up to. We have expectations now, and the team will be looking higher up the grid than ever before. The fans are ready, we will be there cheering for all our worth. Come one, come all....

BRING IT ON!