West Midlander Scores Maiden Formula Three Victory
5th Jul 2009
- Riki now best-placed British driver in championship standings
- Win plus a fifth place moves “Christo” up three places to fourth
Sutton Coldfield’s Riki Christodoulou scored his maiden Formula Three victory at Snetterton today (5 Jul) and is now the best placed British driver at the halfway stage in this year’s Cooper Tires British Formula 3 International Series.
“Christo”, having recorded fifth place in the opening 29-lap race, swept his Alpinestars and British Car Registrations sponsored Dallara-Mercedes to a dominant victory in the second event, rounds nine and 10 respectively at Snetterton in Norfolk to move up to fourth place in the standings in the 20-race series.
Riki lined-up third on the 20-car grid for race two, a mere 0.086secs off pole-position, but had blasted in to the lead by lap three, controlling the race thereafter.
“I made good start and was second on the opening lap and then my momentum out of the last corner at the completion on lap three allowed me to get in to the lead,” commented the 20-year-old who only moved up to Formula Three this year after two seasons in Formula Renault.
“Once in the lead I was able to totally control the race. I had no problems apart from a couple of backmarkers who got in my way in the closing stages.
“After a couple of indifferent results following a good start to my debut F3 season, this bangs home that I mean business and that I’m capable of winning at this level. My thanks after this landmark victory for me must go to Fortec, for providing me with a great racecar in the Dallara Mercedes, and of course my family who have given me great support.
“Having got this win under my belt my aim is to keep the momentum going for the second half of the season.”
Snetterton nr Thetford, Norfolk, Rounds 9 & 10
Race 1
Qualifying Pos: 6th (1min 2.226s) Dry/Sunny. Race Result: 5th (Dry/cloudy).
Race 2
Qualifying Pos: 3rd (1m 2.184s) Dry/Sunny. Race Result: 1st (Dry/cloudy).
2009 Cooper Tires British Formula 3 International Series
1 Ricciardo (AUS) 119 points; 2 Grubmuller (A) 96; 3 van der Zande (NL) 84; 4 Christodoulou (GB) 81; 5 Tandy (GB) 68; 6 Ericsson (Sw) 65. (Provisional standings).
Next races
Donington Park nr Derby, Rds 11 & 12 (19 July) – “National” circuit.
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.
