UK Karting - Interview with Riki Christodoulou

Riki, what have you won this year and what does your new status mean in the Karting World?

Well, the first thing is the British Championship. It took place over six rounds, with two races each and at circuits across the country. I won five finals and was on the podium nine times from 12. Winning at Spa in Belgium was exciting because I knew I was quick at home but to also show some good speed on the continent was important for my confidence and for the morale of the team. The European Championship event in Italy was not so good but I placed 10th from the qualification events. I guess the British Championship and what we have achieved this year has increased my profile in what is a very competitive field with a lot of drivers trying to show what they can do.

Did you have any idea that a British Championship was on the cards at the start of the year?

I have been karting since I was eight years old but last year was my first real season with the standard of equipment and high level of competition. I finished 5th, so I knew that at the start of 2003 I had improved and learned more; it was a possibility. After the first race at Larkhall went well, I would have been disappointed if I had not gone all the way.

In what areas do you think you progressed as a driver that allowed you to step up to this level?

I think it was down to having more confidence, more experience and better knowledge of the tracks and how the Kart reacts. Experience is the biggest factor because I guess it involves all those things. I felt that I knew a lot more about the Kart and how to set it up. 2002 was a learning year and I still managed to win a Final and take four second positions, this season I applied what I knew from that 5th place overall and tried to make it better. Race craft was one of the areas in which I supposed I jumped up. I found it easier to quickly get into the lead, forget what was behind me and pull away. It is always a bit easier, and more exciting, when you are chasing someone and having a good battle but I could fall into a rhythm, like a trance, at the front and win races that way. When you are on your own you can push too much, lose your lines and concentration but that hardly happened to me at all this season. I think the best example of winning from the front must have been the first final at Rissington for the British Championships, that same meeting I won the second final in a very different way by cutting through the pack. That was a great day because Rissington is a tricky circuit but I was very in tune with it. Like I said, understanding the equipment helped. I knew how far I could push with the tyres and how to get the most out of the engine. We did so much testing over the winter at the end of 2002 that I felt myself getting faster and faster as part of the package.

Obviously you are still at school. Does your racing ever clash and what kind of timetable do you have with regards to these two parts of your life?

Luckily the head teacher is fine with me missing some time off school if we have to travel abroad to some races. I think I have shown that I want to make a career from what I am doing and they support me, which is good. I am right in the middle of my GCSEs and I do miss some important lessons that sets me back. I always seem to be catching up and that can be difficult when I have coursework. I go to the gym quite a lot afterwards with some friends. I work on the rowing machine and treadmills and like to play a lot of football; I am too young to work on weights at the moment. I don’t really get bored at the gym because I find that time goes very fast. I spend a lot of time thinking about my driving. If a track is complicated or we were having trouble getting some really quick times while testing I will go there in my head and try to imagine a perfect lap. I find that this does help.

There is ICA next year then Formula A Karting. I hope within two years I can be racing as part of the Formula Renault series. Formula 1 is my ambition and there is a long way to go yet.

A lot of F1 drivers have a Karting background. Why is the sport a good grounding for racers?

I started Karting when I was very young so I think it allows you to learn a lot about racing and the skills that you need at an early age. Then you build up experience and speed with the machinery getting better and faster. Karting is a great way to start out. It is not that expensive at first but you need to invest money the faster you want to go. It is a popular sport and for that reason there is always a lot of competition and valuable racecraft to be learned, like pulling your lines and slipstreaming. Just looking around and watching other people you can see and take-in a lot of things. I have some good friends from Karting and it is like another life away from school.

How do you think the sport is viewed in Britain compared to other countries?

Tough question! Karting has a good base in Britain but like many other small sports lacks a big push of publicity. It is well supported though. The World and European Championships are pretty big things. In Belgium, France and especially Italy the sport is very popular. The Italians have the big Tony Kart factory teams and a lot of good tracks. There are probably more people on the street who know about the Karting guys than in any other country.

What excites you about Karting and what is it that separates the best drivers from the rest?

Simple really, I love the speed. I also see Karting as the first part of a career so it is important that I practice and practice. My Dad and my uncle both raced to a decent standard and their experience really helps me. I think with any kind of sport if you are good at it and have people behind you then it is easier to enjoy. No question that my Dad’s knowledge in terms of setting up the Kart is an advantage for me. Each driver’s engine can be better at certain tracks. Braking, overtaking and general ability as a driver separates many of us but the equipment plays an important role. We test so much and we put a lot of effort into getting the Kart to handle right that it does pay off. I think that Shenington is my favourite track. It suits my style because it is fast and flowing; I really enjoy it.

How do you rate the facilities and opportunities for people to take up Karting in the Midlands?

It could be better. There are not really that many good tracks around. My cousin, Adam, and I used to test a lot at a place called Chasewater, that has now been closed down and we have to drive at least an hour to places like Shenington and PF.

To move up to the ICA class. It’s a definite step-up and is very fast. We did a meeting in Belgium last week and the drivers are physically bigger and races tougher. The Karts are quicker both in acceleration and top end. I will have to be in better shape because the tyres are stickier and it is tiring, the corners are more demanding. It will again be another learning year but I am hoping for a top five finish. I will always go for the win but lack of experience might count against me.

My Dad does more than I can say. He drives me all over the country and Europe and is the boss of the team. My family are very supportive along with one sponsor I have called Roman Originals. We are looking all the time for more people to back us no matter how big or small.

You were tipped to do well in the European Championship this year. What went wrong?

I won a heat last year and was confident of getting in the top five at the very least but we just struggled to get the Kart working right. In practice we were quick but that pace increased for the heats and we could not live with it no matter what we tried. I was nervous that weekend because it was a big meeting, also very hot being in Italy, which was affecting the rubber and track grip. It was disappointing not to get through to the finals and the only low point of what has been a good season.

Who were your main rivals this year and will you be competing against them next season?

A driver called Freddy Martin-Dye was chasing me all year along with another, Jon Lancaster. I am not sure of their plans for next season but I imagine they might be moving to ICA also. Freddy is a very good racer and beat me in 2002 but I beat him this year so I think I have a slight psychological edge for next season and I can do it again.

Name:	Riki Christodoulou
DOB:	15/07/88
Hometown:	Sutton Coldfield
Height:	1.52m
Weight:	42Kg
Pastimes:	Football, Skiing, Playstation
Favourite Sportsman:	Michael Schumacher
Inspiration:	My Dad
Short-term ambition:	Kart racing
Long-term goal:	To be an F1 Driver
First race:	May 1996
Kart and Equipment:	Tony Kart/ Vortex Engines
Favourite track(s):	Shenington, Spa Francorchamps

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