“CHRISTO” RETURNS TO FORMULA RENAULT SERIES WITH FORTEC
6th Aug 2010
Sutton Coldfield’s Riki Christodoulou will complete the remainder of the 2010 Michelin Formula Renault UK Championship beginning with the forthcoming two races at Snetterton in Norfolk next weekend (7-8 Aug).
“Christo” made a two-race appearance in the category he contested with Fortec Motorsport in 2007 & ’08 last month and will now complete the season with Daventry-based Fortec who the talented Midlander also raced with in last year’s British Formula Three Championship.
“Fortec Motorsport has come up with a good deal enabling me to return to racing full time again so I’ve grasped the opportunity with both hands,” confirmed Riki who will once again be supported by Alpinestars.
“I need to be out racing regularly. Although it’s not an ideal scenario stepping down to the Renault series having graduated to Formula Three last year, it’s a case of needs must. This will get me race sharp again and is a fantastic chance for me to get stuck in and claim some good results for myself and Fortec.
”I’d been given the opportunity to get back in to a race car at Croft with CRS last month and I’d like to thank them for that outing. After a nine month break out of the cockpit with no testing or racing it was good to get back in the heat of the action again. It was a great one-off opportunity for me but at the time I was not planning on completing the rest of the Renault season. But I guess it whetted my appetite.”
Riki added: “I know Snetterton very well and claimed a pole, a couple of podiums and two fastest laps the last time I raced a Formula Renault there so I’m really looking forward to heading back to Norfolk. There are five race weekends left so I intend to make the most of this chance Fortec has very kndly given me.”
Richard Dutton, Team Owner & Director of Fortec Motorsport, commented: ”We’re really pleased to have Riki back in our team. Were also very pleased that we have managed to find a sponsor for him to enable him to get back in a car which is where he needs to be as he is a huge talent. Russell Spence from Spence Refit has been a long time supporter of Fortec Motorsport.”
Having carved out a successful career in karting championships throughout Europe, “Christo” finished fifth and sixth in the 2006 & ’07 Formula Renault UK Championships respectively.
Last year, Riki netted fifth in the British F3 standings and the “Top Rookie” Award at his first attempt in the single-seater category. However, the economic climate had a detrimental effect on his aspirations of progressing up to the Formula Renault World Series this year resulting in just two FRUK outings (19-20 Jun) in which he achieved two top-10 placings despite it being his first back in a Formula Renault cockpit since September 2008.
“Christo” achieved 14 top-three podiums placings in the two years that he had in the category including three race wins. The Formula Renault single-seater is powered by a two-litre engine producing 210bhp.
Formula Renault UK (remaining races)
7/8 August Snetterton Rds 11&12
21/22 August Silverstone National Rds 13&14
4/5 September Knockhill Rounds Rds 15&16
18/19 Sept Silverstone GP Rds 17&18
9/10 October Brands Hatch Indy Rds 19&20
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.
