News
Sutton Coldfield’s Riki Christodoulou took time out last weekend (27 Feb) from his desperate search for funding by contesting his second charity kart race in the space of six weeks.
The 21-year-old West Midlander who finished fifth in his maiden British Formula Three Championship season and won the “Rookie Award” last year claimed second place in the inaugural Race for Heroes Charity Kart Race.
“Christo” and his fellow “Loose Cannons” team-mates started the Six Hour race staged at the Daytona Milton Keynes track on the crest of a wave having won a 77-lap charity race at Birmingham’s National Exhibition Centre (15 Jan).
“I finished 11 seconds behind the winner so was a little cheesed off we didn’t win again because I hate losing but had to remind myself it was for charity ,” reflected Riki.
“I went out for the last ‘stint’ on a wet track and was consistently lapping almost two seconds a lap faster than anyone. I led and pulled away but had to make a pit-stop and then picked up a penalty for an innocuous collision with another kart despite realising my mistake and allowing the guy back past me. My last stint lasted two hours and it was so annoying to just come up short.”.
Seventeen karts took part in the race which ended in complete darkness with Riki sharing his machine with four other drivers. Actors from British television programme, Dirty Sanchez, plus members of The Enemy, a rock band formed in Coventry, also raced.
Meanwhile Riki returns this week to the slow but vital prospect of finding the necessary finances to allow him to compete in 2010.
“It’s not going as planned otherwise I would have signed for a team and begun testing,” confirmed “Christo”. “Were in negotiations with a number of teams concerning various championship options but are unable to put pen to paper because we haven’t the required budget.
“It is very frustrating and demoralizing as whatever the championship, the racing season begins next month and time is running out. All I want to do is race and prove that I’m a winner.”
