Herta takes final win of the season with Norris second

Carlin's Colton Herta (C)

Carlin's Colton Herta took the final MSA Formula win of the season today, at the Brands Hatch circuit in Kent, with newly crowned champion Lando Norris making it a Carlin 1-2 in the season finale. Petru Florescu managed to avoid incidents in a frenetic midfield to finish 12th. With Norris crowned the inaugural MSA Formula Champion, Herta finished third in the overall standings and Florescu 11th.

Starting from pole position for the second time this weekend, Norris made a good start off the line with Herta once again starting alongside. Herta lost out in the run to Paddock Hill Bend to Emaan Ahmed, but managed to get the place back in the run up to Druids. Florescu meanwhile starting from 10th was involved in some close racing in the mid-field and lost a couple of positions to drop to 14th.

As the field came round to complete the first lap of the race Norris was leading, but with newer tires, it was Herta who had the advantage through Clearways, getting the run on his team mate to steal the lead as the field started the second lap.

From then on Herta controlled the race from the front setting the fastest lap of the race and pulling away from Norris who in turn had pulled a sizeable gap from third placed man Ahmed. Florescu meanwhile had made up a couple of places to 12th and was steering clear of incidents in the mid-field.

Putting in a faultless race, Herta took the checkered flag first taking the final victory of the season while Norris topped his championship winning season with a second place. Florescu went on to take 12th.

Speaking about his race, Herta said, “It was the best way to end the season. We knew we had the pace to win. It was a hard race, it's never easy, I was pushing the whole time, but I guess I had good tires and I was using that to my advantage. It's been a great season. I feel like a very different driver to the one who raced here at the start of the season. To finish the season consistently fighting at the front feels great."