Former European Le Mans Series LMGTE champion Alex MacDowall just missed out on making it two titles in the space of three years during the final round of the season at Portimao in Portgual, but did celebrate a welcome podium return for top squad JMW Motorsport.

Racing to a second-placed finish in round six of the season at the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve along with JMW team-mates Miguel Molina and Liam Griffin, the Ferrari F488 LMGTE trio concluded the campaign just 7.5 points shy of the title as 2018 vice-champions.

"Red Bull Ring, where we had to retire due to mechanical failure, was the race that screwed it up for our championship, but you can’t predict these things and we did the best we could this weekend," said Carlisle’s MacDowall.

"We put our car on pole, kept the pressure on them [No.88 Proton Competition squad] and without that no-score earlier in the year, we would have been champions.

"I’ve really enjoyed this year.

"Working with the JMW guys has been fantastic and I’ve loved driving the Ferrari.

"It’s been good to have won races and be back in a fighting position in the championship at the end of the season, teaming with Miguel and Liam has been great and, hopefully, I can be as competitive whatever I’m doing next year."

After handing the car over to Molina for the final stint, the Spanish racer was third following the driver change pit-stop and after climbing into second, a late stop for a top-up of fuel was required. Pushing hard, Molina went on to end the race second in LMGTE to mark a welcome podium return.

"It was a tough race for us and not ideal. I had an unavoidable little touch with an LMP3 car, which led to the drive-through," reflected MacDowall.