European champion Kris Richard denies team strategy with Aku Pellinen

Rikli Motorsport’s Kris Richard won the FIA European Touring Car Cup on countback of second places, as he finished equal on points with Krenek Motorsport’s Petr Fulín. The Austrian is on cloud nine.

“I am feeling really, really good,” admitted Richard. “In the first race I was having big problems with the car after a few laps. I saw white smoke in the mirrors sometimes and I smelt something that was not so good, maybe a bit of oil burning. But I was lucky to bring the second place home.”

At the start of the second race Richard says he was squeezed on the grass by title rival Fulín: “At the start of the second race I was able to get close to Petr, but he pushed me a little bit onto the grass and I lost the traction and lost there many places. After the safety car he was a little bit faster. I am very happy and also very thankful to the team, they did a great job.”

The Honda driver congratulated Fulín after a season-long battle with the Czech driver: “When I look back on the whole season it was a really tight fight and I also have to congratulate Petr. He is one of the best drivers and I have big respect for him.”

Although it looked like team-mate Aku Pellinen let him through to allow him to take two extra points for second, Richard says he told the Finn to do his own race, and the sudden drop in pace was due to a brake issue: “I told him (Pellinen) before the race to drive your own style, your own race and when you can win do it, because the faster of me and Petr should win [the title]. He told me after the race his brake pedal was going really down. I didn’t know during the race that I needed a second place to win the title but in the end they told me I was only champion because of the second place. It was lucky for me but bad for Petr.”

Kris Richard will also get a prize drive in the FIA World Touring Car Championship next year.