Great Britain target next year's title

Kerr finished fourth in the wet Sprint race and third in the Feature, meaning that they only need to finish seventh or higher in either of the races in China next month to take third place overall.

France took the inaugural title in the Sprint, having built up an unassailable lead from second-placed Switzerland.

The Laguna Seca rounds were Kerr's last races this season due to his World Series by Renault testing duties, and his place will be taken by ex-IRL and Champ Car driver Darren Manning in Shanghai next month.

"We very much came here hoping to increase our lead for third place," Surtees said. "It would have been nice to compete for first but that has justifiably gone to the French, for which they must be complemented on a well run programme.

"It is a credit to them and made it difficult for the rest of us and we'll be looking to challenge them for victory 2006/7.

"Robbie coped extremely well with the conditions in the Sprint race and as with the Feature race it was a case of trying to take opportunities without endangering the car. In the second race we were held off by a well-driven German car and generally considering how practice looked we upped the pace and came away with a good result."

Kerr wished Manning luck to secure third place in next month's championship finale.

"The job's nearly done - 18 points clear of Brazil so now it's Darren's job to bring it home in China," Kerr said. "I'm really pleased with the way everything's gone."