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Fortec driver Riki Christodoulou launched only his second Formula Renault UK with Michelin championship in the best possible way with victory in the first of two races at Brands Hatch last weekend. The former British Junior Karting champion claimed his first chequered flag of 2008 at the opening round of ten in the series.

19 year old ‘Christo’, from Sutton Coldfield, took a decent start from second position on the grid and escaped from the pursuing pack to win by a comprehensive six seconds in damp and tricky conditions. The grey skies and intermittent rain over the weekend would determine the driver’s placement in the second race. Christo was unable to clock a rapid lap in the second qualification session on slick tyres before showers coated the Kent venue during Saturday. For the second outing he was stuck back in tenth spot. He made some good moves, including a bold late pass around the outside on the drop down Paddock Hill bend, to rise to seventh before the culmination of proceedings.

“It is awesome to start the season with a win,” he said. “I felt really confident and relaxed and it helped with this being my second year in the championship. I knew what to expect. I could just keep my head down and work on being consistent. The track here is not easy. The cars are so similar that even if you do get a run or some extra speed it is hard to use it to overtake.”

“The track was wet but drying out for the first race. When I saw Sims stall on the grid I knew I had a good chance to lead into the first corner and went for it; I think I had about 4 or 5 car lengths in the end. Once I had a small margin then I got my laps sorted. It was quite a boring race actually but thrilling to win,” added the driver who took seven podium results last season; his maiden term in single-seater racing.

“We had a hiccup in qualification when I came into the pits to change my tyres pressures and then it started to rain. I could only get one flying lap done before the session was a wash-out so I was stuck down in the middle of the grid. I was pleased with that pass through Paddock Hill and it actually had me smiling away to myself in my helmet.”

“We have a great little platform to build from here,” he concluded. “I’ve been on the top step now and it is very addictive!”

Riki was also pleased to hear that he will continue his association with British Car Registrations, who came onboard as a personal sponsor last season. The firm (www.britishcarregistrations.co.uk) will support the former European Karting FA vice-champion throughout 2008.

Round two of the Formula Renault UK championship – that runs concurrently with the British Touring Car series – will take place in two weeks (April 12th/13th) at Rockingham Motor Speedway. Highlights can be caught on ITV4.

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