But the British team spoiled the party by dominating the first race of the weekend.

Trackside’s Keith Collantine reckons they can make a bid for the title next season.

Robbie Kerr, team Britain, and Nico Hülkenberg, team Germany, stared each other down at the start of the final round of the A1 Grand Prix championship.

The two scorched ahead of the pack at the start and battled side-by-side for the first half of the lap.

Over the ultra-quick crest at Paddock Hill, around the tight hairpin at Druids and funnelling through Graham Hill bend, neither driver gave a millimetre of space to the other.

This was a thrilling way to sign off the second series of the World Cup of Motorsport.

Germany had won the championship at the previous round – now nothing was holding them back. This final battle was all about pride.

The weekend saw 74,000 fans cheer Kerr on – and they were rewarded by the home driver, who made history in the first race.

He became the first A1 Grand Prix driver to win his home event. He took pole position and stormed away at the start to win by eight seconds, setting a new fastest lap on the way.

But Germany’s Nico Hülkenberg – the 19 year-old many are already tipping as the next Michael Schumacher – took the fight to the Briton in race two.

Starting alongside each other, Kerr and Hülkenberg raced side-by-side for corner after corner at the start.

It was only when the safety car was scrambled onto the track to attend to a major crash at the first corner that everything calmed down – with Germany in the lead.

Once the race got started again even the pit stops couldn’t separate the two drivers.

Kerr briefly got ahead of his rival at the very fast Westfield corner, only for Hülkenberg to scramble ahead again at the next bend.

Lap after lap Kerr hounded the German, each driver occasionally running wide and kicking up dirt. After 70 minutes’ racing Hülkenberg crossed the line 0.6 seconds ahead – scarcely any further apart than they had been at the start.

It was a thrilling end to an excellent season. Though Britain were disappointed not to take a double win in their home event, they know they can be champions next year.

Britain were the top team in the series over the final six races, taking three wins and three second places.

They had to wait 39 races to score their first win in Mexico last month. But that victory by Oliver Jarvis has opened the floodgates.

As the championship ends with Britain on a high the team are set to challenge for the title next season. It all begins again at Zandvoort in the Netherlands in September.

Racing round-up

A1 Grand Prix season finale, Brands Hatch

Britain’s second place in the final race meant they finished one point behind New Zealand in the championship, the All Blacks team 35 adrift of champions Germany.

Indy Racing League, Kansas

Britain’s Dan Wheldon won again in the Indy Racing League as he extended his championship lead. He dominated the race in Kansas, leading 177 of 200 laps to win ahead of fellow Briton Dario Franchitti.

Trackside video

Kerr and Hülkenberg celebrate the end of the A1 Grand Prix season with doughnuts and burnouts in front of a packed Brands Hatch crowd.

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