Snetterton racing car manufacturer, Ralph Firman Racing, made a hugely successful winning debut in America with their new Kawasaki-powered Formula 1000 single-seater race car.

Eastern Daily Press: George Russell with Snetterton owner Jonathan Palmer.George Russell with Snetterton owner Jonathan Palmer. (Image: Archant)

After the newly-developed Norfolk-built car had been given a shake-down test at Donington Park it was air-freighted to the highly prestigious Sporting Car Club of America run-offs, at the Laguna Seca circuit in California.

There the car was handed over to JR Osborne, who plated it on pole position and proceeded to lead the 20-lap race from start to finish to win by five seconds, while setting the fastest race lap to secure the triple crown.

'I pushed really hard to get a little gap,' reflected Osborne on his fourth national title. 'Alex Mayer did not let up at all and I couldn't push any harder without taking a chance of throwing it off.'

Victory has secured orders for a number of new cars for the America series while two further cars are to be shipped out to Australia.

In a drama-filled finale, at his home circuit of Snetterton, George Russell clinched the prestigious BARDC Formula 4 Championship title with a resounding victory.

'This feels amazing,' admitted Russell on clinching the £25,000 first prize. 'It's been an incredibly difficult and hard-fought year, but in the end we have come away with what we have been fighting for.'

The Wisbech 16-year-old had led the series from the start, but arrived at Snetterton 21 points adrift of his Lanan Racing team-mate Arjun Maini, having been knocked out of the lead in the final race at Donington Park, for the second time this year, by title rival Raoul Hyman.

As he did in the early season round at Snetterton, Russell claimed top spot in qualifying and the Jack Carvill Pole Position Cup in the process after recording the most poles in the season with the Ralph Firman Racing, Snetterton-built car.

Russell started the final race of the season from pole position and needed to win with Maini lower than third, but Hyman got the jump to lead before Russell made his decisive move on lap two at Agostini.