Christo braced for start of 2008 Formula Renault campaign
26th Mar 2008
Fortec Formula Renault driver Riki Christodoulou will start his second season of single-seater racing this weekend at Brands Hatch with the first of ten rounds (twenty sprints) in the 2008 ‘FR with Michelin’ series that runs parallel to the British Touring Car Championship.
The 19 year old from Sutton Coldfield finished sixth in his first year away from the Kart circuit in 2007 (where he was Junior British Champion and European FA vice-champion) and won two races and grabbed seven podiums in an impressive debut term, learning a new car, new series and the dips, curves and nuances of Britain’s premier motorsport venues. In recognition of his development and promise Christodoulou was last week enrolled into the prestigious British Racing Driver’s Club ‘Superstar’s programme, which supports 14 of the country’s fastest and brightest competitive talents.
“It is a major honour to be chosen for this,” commented ‘Christo’ who was also part of the BRDC’s ‘Rising Stars’ scheme. “It basically means that we are taken under the wing of the BRDC and can use all the advice and facilities they have to offer to advance our careers. To be recognised as one of the top fourteen drivers in the country is a big bonus for what we are trying to do.”
Christo has been busy training and testing over the winter period with outings at Rockingham, Brands, Snetterton and Silverstone to clock up further mileage in the Alpinestars and Roman Originals-branded 2008 FR2.0 machine. The championship will involve trips to eight of the UK’s best race circuits; the first meeting will take place in the heart of Kent.
“This is my second year and it was only towards the end of last season that I really began to feel at home and like I could control races,” he remarked “so now I hope to apply all of what I have learnt and the confidence I have gained through some good results and decent lap-times to go for the championship; winning the title is my only goal.”
“We were not always right at the front during the winter tests but races are another matter and I’m happy with the set-up we have with the team. For some reason I have been on the pace but never taken the flag at Brands Hatch. Getting the season on a roll with a victory would be the perfect start.”
Formula Renault is widely regarded as the richest breeding ground for top racing drivers. F1 stars like current champion Kimi Raikkonen, Lewis Hamilton and Heikki Kovalainen are just some of the names to have sharpened their racecraft via the single-make championship.
The UK competition enjoys healthy media coverage and TV exposure through motorsport programming on Sky Sports and this year will be broadcast on ITV4. The World Series meeting at Donington Park last year drew over 130,000 spectators through the gate over the weekend.
About Riki Christo
Riki Christodoulou has been racing as long as he can remember. Through karts, Formula Renault and now in the British Formula 3 International series. Riki continues to compete in top flight motorsport as one of the UK’s most promising young racing car drivers.
