Takuma Sato  Born: 28.01.77  Birthplace:Tokyo, Japan  Team: Super Aguri  2006 Car Number: 22  Last Season: 23rd  GP Pedigree (After Brazilian GP)  Starts: 68  Victories: 0  Poles: 0  Fastest Laps: 0  Points: 40  GP Debut: 2002, Australian GP   Five-year Stats

Just when his F1 career looked to have come to an abrupt - and deserved - end following his dismissal from Honda at the end of 2005, Takuma Sato has been handed a lifeline by F1 debutants, Super Aguri, who don’t appear to mind his notorious reputation.

Such was his propensity for ill-advised meetings with barriers, gravel traps and the hardware of his competitors during the 2004 and 2005 seasons that he had been dubbed a crashaholic by all at Planet-F1. No doubt we’ll be employing the moniker again soon.

Accidents are hardly a recently-discovered phenomenon for Taku, after all. The Japanese youngster often made the F1 headlines for all the wrong reasons in 2002.

Being the first rookie to crash in Australia and then bumping into his team-mate - Fisichella - early on gave the earnest Takuma a reputation as being a bit of a liability.

But the resilient Taku took it all in his stride and went on to prove he can be fast and keep it on the island.

Funniest sight of the year (apart from de la Rosa's comedy fall at Indy) was Taku wading back through the undergrowth in Montreal trying to get back to the pit and into the spare car.

Most worrying sight of the year was when Nick Heidfeld's out-of-control Sauber rammed a helpless Taku in Austria. Luckily both survived with only the slightest of injuries.

His home race at Suzuka, though, proved to be a fantastic finale for him and Jordan.

Yet despite claiming fifth place in front of his joyous home crowd, Taku lost his Jordan seat, which some believe was inevitable after his backers Honda ended their engine contract with Eddie Jordan's team.

After a season testing for BAR, Taku returned to the grid for the final race of the 2003 campaign at Japan and impressed by finishing in the points.

2004 was a mixed affair because while his speed was never in question, his judgement certainly was.

Nurburgring was a case in point; Takuma delivered a searing display and yet, with second place his for the taking, he threw it away with an ill-advised and catastrophic lunge into Rubens Barrichello's Ferrari.

His first podium was eventually forthcoming at the US GP.

And although his season total of 34 points was barely a third of what team-mate Jenson Button had collected, BAR extended Taku's contract for 2005.

Most observers suspected that his nationality, and Honda’s patronage, was the only reason why,

2005 proved to be a wretched season for the Japanese driver, who had his first top-eight finish (in San Marino) disallowed after his team-mate's 2006 was deemed illegal.

This not only led to BAR's disqualification from the race but also a two-race ban.

Taku finished only one other GP in the points, finishing P8 in Hungary.

But while points were scarce, shunts were not, and by the end of the season he'd connected with at least half the drivers on the grid. The most notable moment being his Spa accident with Michael Schumacher which ended with the Ferrari ace slapping Taku.

Tired of the lack of results and hefty repair bills BAR, now owned entirely by Honda, finally opted not to renew Taku’s deal, leaving him without a race seat for 2006.

But just when it looked as if his F1 career had come to an abrupt end, he was handed a lifeline by newcomers Super Aguri, who don’t appear to mind his notorious reputation.

However, whether the brand-new team will mind the hefty repair bill, remains to be seen.

Formula One Career:

2006:	GP with Super Aguri.
2005:	GP with BAR (1pt - joint 23rd in championship).
2004:	GP with BAR - (34pts - eighth in championship).
2003:	GP with BAR - (3pts - 18th in championship).
2002:	GP with Jordan

Background:

2001:	First in British Formula Three championship with Carlin Motorsport (12 wins) Test driver for BAR.
2000:	Third in British Formula Three championship with Carlin Motorsport (four wins)
1999:	Sixth in EFDA Formula Opel Series (one win). Moved to British Formula Three championship with Diamond Racing
1998:	Formula Vauxhall Junior championship and Formula Opel championships with Diamond Racing
1997:	Karting champion in Japan and won Honda Suzuka Racing School scholarship