CHRISTODOULOU CONSOLIDATES SIXTH PLACE IN STANDINGS
13th Sep 2009
- Sutton Coldfield driver endures mixed fortunes in Portugal
- “Christo” aiming to deliver points haul at Brands Hatch finale
Riki Christodoulou heads for the final two races at Brands Hatch next weekend (20 Sep) in his maiden Cooper Tires British Formula 3 International Series season after suffering mixed fortunes in the latest races at the Autodrómo Internacional do Algarve today (13 Sep).
Having qualified 10th and seventh for the two races around the new 2.92 mile, 18-corner Portuguese track, “Christo” posted seventh place on the road in race one – just 6.613secs behind the race winner – before unluckily being punted out of the second race.
Riki, aged 21, commented: “I enjoyed a really good dice with Max Chilton in race one. I was getting faster as the race progressed and actually got past him but I ran wide and he got me again. The race was cut short by a couple of laps due to Safety Car periods which was a shame because I felt I could have battled past him again.
“In any case I was the fifth-highest British championship contender which moved me up one place to fifth in the standings and I looked forward to the second race believing a top-three result was definitely on the cards. But the race only lasted two corners after I was hit up the rear causing instant retirement – very frustrating as it also meant I slipped back to sixth in the championship.”
The final two rounds of the 20-race series are staged at Brands Hatch on 20 September. Riki concluded: “I must put this bad luck behind me and focus on Brands. I qualified on the front row of the grid and finished third at Brands for my last Formula Renault race 12 months ago so I’ll be aiming to repeat that kind of form.”
Autodrómo Internacional do Algarve (Portugal), Rds 17 & 18:
Race 1: Qualifying Pos: 10th (1m 38.701s) Dry/sunny. Race Result: 5th (Dry/sunny).
Race 2: Qualifying Pos: 7th (1m 38.103s) Dry/sunny. Race Result: Retired, accident (Dry/sunny).
2009 Cooper Tires British Formula 3 International Series*: 1 Ricciardo (AUS) 240 points; 2 van der Zande (NL) 177; 3 Grubmuller (A) 168; 4 Chilton (GB) 135; 5 Buzaid (BRA) 112; 6 Christodoulou (GB) 103. (Provisional standings).
Next races: Brands Hatch nr Fawkham, Kent (20 Sep).
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.
