WILL Bratt was delighted to finish the FIA Formula 2 Championship season on a high – ending the campaign just 13 points off a coveted top-three place.

The Banbury-based driver finished second in the opening race of round 18 at Valencia, and had an outside chance of breaking into third place in the standings.

However, his hopes were hit by a mechanical problem in qualifying, that meant he started from 15th on the grid.

He made a good start in the race, but his car was clipped on the opening lap by Benjamin Lariche as he tried to avoid Nicola De Marco.

Despite his car being undamaged, Bratt dropped to the tail of the 18-car field.

Although he fought back to 15th place, it ended his hopes of a top-three position.

“We made a really good start to the weekend and to be so close to a first win in the opening race was really satisfying,” he said.

“It’s just a shame we couldn’t be in the fight at the front again in race two.

“Qualifying down in 15th set the scene really, I got blocked on my quickest lap using the boost so that really ruined any chance of finishing in the championship top three which was the target.

“In the race itself, the contact from (Benjamin) Lariche launched my car pretty dramatically into the air, but I was surprised there was no real damage when it landed.

“There was no way back from there, I got held up behind some slower cars as Valencia’s such a tough track to pass on.”

Bratt is now planning to move on from F2, with one eye on the FIA Formula 1 World Championship-supporting GP2 Series.

He is also investigating opportunities across the other side of the Atlantic in the USA as he strives to carve out a fully professional career in single-seater racing.