Riki, 21, set the fastest time in qualifying – by over six seconds – and with the help of cousin, Adam, and fellow racer James Calado amongst the six-driver “Jack Barclay’s Bentley Boys” team comfortably took the honours by three laps in the three-hour race.

“We had to make 11 pit stops and were given warnings and black flags to try and slow us down in an attempt to make it more of a race but it didn’t stop us winning,” added “Christo”.

“I won a cool trophy for the fastest lap of the day – a piston and other parts from the engine of a Bentley. All I want now is a drive for 2010 to go with it!”

The West Midlander, who finished fifth in his maiden British Formula Three Championship season and won the “Rookie Award” last year, won a Racing4 Charity kart race at Birmingham’s NEC in January.

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.”

The 21-year-old from Sutton Coldfield led his “Loose Cannons” team to a slender 0.509-secs victory in the 77-lap race at Birmingham’s National Exhibition Centre on Friday evening (15 Jan).

“Christo”, who finished fifth in his maiden British Formula Three Championship season and won the “Rookie Award” last year, also won the corresponding Racing4 Charity race 12 months ago.

“The last eight minutes were crazy”, commented Riki. “We were under pressure having won it last year and it was a close run affair right up until the chequered flag.”

Having qualified 12^th on the 26-kart grid, “Christo” and fellow professional motor racing drivers Duncan Tappy, Paul Rees and Will Stevens plus two members of the public, Dave Fry and Shaun Traynor, swept their Loose Cannons team hit the front on lap six leading 19 of the opening 28-laps.

“Paul [Rees] led from lap 56 but then was held up in traffic allowing my cousin, Adam, to catch us up and snatch the lead with eight laps to run. I was hanging over the pit wall screaming and waving Paul on for inspiration!

“Paul re-took Adam before getting bumped out of the lead at the hairpin with one minute remaining but then the race was stopped when crash barriers flew through the air due to other multiple accidents. Rules stipulate results are decided on the lap before the red flag so that meant we’d won – again!”

The race featuring ex-Formula One drivers and some of the world’s leading sportscar drivers was part of the annual Autosport International Show and raised almost £60,000 for Malaria No More UK.

Meanwhile “Christo” is continuing to work towards his 2010 race programme. He added: “We’re in talks to get a budget for this season but it’s a slow process. I have to be patient but it’s hard. I still need major backing and investments to help me to race this year but there a lot of driver’s in the same situation due to the economic climate.”

Riki Christodoulou has been presented with the 2009 Cooper Tires British Formula 3 International Series “Rookie of the Year” Award.

The 21-year-old from Sutton Coldfield finished fifth in the championship standings after netting a win, two seconds plus one third placing in the 20-race series. He collected his spoils at the annual SRO Motorsports Group awards held in West Sussex.

“It was gratifying to get this award which now brings the curtain down on my first season in the Formula Three category,” said Riki.

“It was an opportunity to reflect on this season because once the chequered flag was waved in the final race back in September, much of my thoughts have been about next year.”

Forty-eight hours later “Christo” attended the annual AUTOSPORT Awards in London (6 Dec), accompanying his cousin, Adam, who was a finalist for the BRDC Award. Riki rubbed shoulders with Britain’s last three Formula One World Champions Jenson Button, Lewis Hamilton and Damon Hill at the Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane, London.

“It was a really cool evening and gave me the opportunity to chat with a lot of people,” Riki added. “I spoke to a number of drivers, Jenson Button’s father, John, Red Bull Racing’s Team Principal, Christian Horner, plus actor James Corden, from the TV programme Gavin & Stacey, who was an incredibly funny guy.”

Riki, who is sponsored by Alpinestars and British Car Registrations, attended The British Racing Drivers’ Club’s Superstars and Rising Stars luncheon in London today (7 Dec) – “Christo” having been selected for the Superstars initiative which supports young drivers from a cross-section of motor racing disciplines and championships for a second year.

Last month, Riki helped to raise money for BBC’s annual Children In Need appeal. Teaming up with cousin, Adam, and TV motoring presenter, Tiff Needell, “Christo” finished third in a 24 hour “motor race” driving a sportscar on a racing simulator at workshops in Southampton.

Riki concluded: “I’ve attended a number of functions in recent weeks, including another BRDC event in which Grand Prix winner Mark Webber gave an informative presentation, but after today’s event it’s a case of getting back to focusing on 2010.

“This year’s racing programme came together literally days before the season began in April and that was not ideal. I want to be in a position to announce my 2010 plans early in the New Year.”

Riki Christodoulou fervently believes that his maiden 2009 Cooper Tires British Formula 3 International Series season in which he was the highest-placed “rookie” will stand him in good stead for next year – whichever category the Sutton Coldfield race ace ultimately chooses.

The 21-year-old finished fifth in the championship standings after “Christo” netted a win plus two seconds and one third placing in the 20-race series – his first year at this level. All four drivers who finished ahead of him had previously raced in F3 with three of them having two full season’s of race experience.

“My first season in F3 was very good but I feel it should have been better,” reflects Riki who finished second in the Mirror.co.uk Challenge Cup – presented to the highest-placed British driver. “I was fast throughout the season but was involved in accidents, caused by others, too many times which really hurt my Championship hopes.

“Scoring my maiden F3 win was the best feeling while the low point was at Spa in Belgium, one of my favourite tracks, where I recorded two non-finishes which was a disaster for my championship aspirations.”

“Christo” drove a Dallara-Mercedes for the Daventry-based Fortec Motorsport team – a hi-tec single-seater capable of 170mph built from advanced composites and loaded with aerodynamic wings and flaps.

Riki continued: “There is so much that can be finely tuned to suit the different tracks we race on.I did my homework before the season began and continued to learn as the year progressed. If I decide to remain in F3, I will be stronger all round with a year’s racing under my belt. I know the circuits, the car, the tyres and have been in qualifying and race situations.”

“Christo” is already planning for next year’s racing. He says: “I train everyday with my trainer, bright and early before starting work. I have a set programme throughout the week which involves Cardio Vascular work – I love running – and weights.

Riki will be awarded “Top Rookie” silverware at the British F3 Awards early next month (4 Dec) and is likely to be attending the Autosport Awards two days later in London where he will be rubbing shoulders with reigning Formula One World champion Jenson Button.

“I’m considering a number of different options and opportunities as well as attempting to put the necessary funding in place for 2010,” concluded “Christo”.