2018 Grand Finale at the Valley
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Date
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8-9 December
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Race of Champions
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Pole position
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Fastest lap
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Race winner
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FIA Formula 4 World Final
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Pole position
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Ed Howitzer
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Fastest lap
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Massimo Torelli
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Race Winner
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Luca Bandini
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The 2018 Grand Finale at the Valley was a motorsport event featuring two non-championship finale events. The first saw a return to the circuit racing format for the well known Race of Champions event, whilst the weekend also saw the debut of the FIA Formula 4 World Final format. Practise and qualifying for both events were held on Saturday, while the feature races were on Sunday.
XXIX Race of Champions
25 participants were selected to compete in an event that would crown 2018's Champion of Champions. 20 of these were assigned by invites for placing as series champions, or championship podium finishers amongst the top series in the world. The remaining five slots, referred to as All Star Invites, are high-profile wildcards who did not earn an invitation based on the required criteria, but were voted in by fans for their popularity and ability.
Qualified participants
All Star Wildcards
Qualifying
Race
FIA Formula 4 World Final
Six drivers from each of the three national F4 series from around the globe were invited to partake in an end-of-year battle royale, in which the winner would be handed the FIA Rising Star Award, as recognition of being the best driver in the lowest rung of single-seaters worldwide. The race was somewhat longer than a standard Formula 4 race at 100 kilometres, to reflect the finality of the event on the season's proceedings.
Eligible participants
Qualifying
Race
Third placed qualifier Luca Bandini won the race, with an overtake on the last lap on Sabrina Mann, who shared the joint most laps led with third placed Ed Howitzer. John-Paul Casciaro was the other podium finisher, in 2nd position, whose performance was notable for having the equal most positions gained from their starting position, an honour shared with Alex Smith in 6th position. Conversely, the worst performer was Will Tregurtha, who dropped 7 places from his starting position.
While the Italian series took the crown thanks to the success of Bandini, it was the Anglo-Irish series with the best success rate overall, with half of the top 10 occupied by drivers from the region. Despite having something of a home advantage with Grand Valley Speedway's US location, only two competitors from the North American series - Ed Howitzer and Alejandro de la Vega placed in the Top 10.