Team Riki Christodoulou have travelled to the south of France and the Lavelanet circuit this week for qualification heats in order to ease their way into the European Championship due to take place at Mariembourg, Belgium on 5th September.

The defending JICA Champion embarks on his first ICA Euro meeting this season in what is the annual highpoint of the Karting calendar. The proceedings at Lavelanet begin tomorrow with Open testing, continuing on Friday through to qualification heats on Saturday and the finals on Sunday. The aim of the meeting is to finish in the top 26 and ensure entry to Mariembourg. Two other similar ‘heats’ are also occurring this weekend for the different regions of Europe and the top drivers from the UK have to gather near the Pyrenees just south of Toulouse to survive the cut to Belgium.

Riki tested at the facility just over a month ago and was happy with his lap-times. The circuit itself does not have the best infrastructure but the layout involves a quick and lengthy track that the 15 year old enjoys.

“I think I have a good chance of winning here,” he remarked. “I have beaten a few of the European guys at the Italian Open series so I more or less know what to expect. The track is good even if the building and surroundings are not that great. It is not really like any course in the UK. It is long with a 50+ laptime and some nice fast corners.”

80 entrants will be vying for the 26 positions this weekend and Team Christo will be using their Birel TM Kart to try and top the classification.

“We used the Birel with the Italian team when we made appearances in their Championship and I am happy with the Kart so we have it this weekend.”