Carlisle racer Alex MacDowall helped to keep alive his team’s title aspirations as he claimed a top five finish.

Aston Martin Racing Beechdean Motorsport driver MacDowall, 25, raced superbly during the fifth round of the European Le Mans Series at Spa-Francorchamps last weekend.

The penultimate round of the season at the Belgian track was far from straightforward for the Carlisle racer and team-mates Darren Turner and Andrew Howard.

An issue with the No.99 Aston Martin V8 Vantage GTE, prior to the start left them a lap down before they had even turned a wheel in anger.

Set to begin the four-hour contest from fifth on the grid in LMGTE, MacDowall took the opening stint but, as the cars circulated on the formation lap, warning lights on the dash alerted the Cumbrian to a problem with over-heating.

He pitted just ahead of the race start to get the issue resolved and, as he departed the Beechdean pit box, the red lights at the end of the pitlane came on due to the race action falling under Safety Car conditions inside the first couple of minutes.

This cost the Aston Martin a lap on the rest of the pack.

But, when he was finally able to join the race, MacDowall produced some outstanding laps.

Beginning a monumental fightback to try and salvage as many points as possible from the contest in order to minimise any damage in the championship battle, MacDowall handed over the car to Howard at the first round of pit stops before Turner took stint three.

The race was interspersed with several yellow flag periods and a lengthy 20-minute Safety Car period, before the second half of the contest.

And, when MacDowall returned to the driving seat for the final portion of the race, he eventually took the car to the chequered flag in a very hard-fought fifth position.

“Unfortunately, the problem at the start on the grid cost us a lap on the others, so the race for the podium was over really at that point,” said MacDowall.

“After that, we had to do the best we could and I felt I was driving well in my stints, setting fastest laps and doing everything possible.

“We started fifth and finished fifth which, after the way things started, wasn’t bad and means we’re still in the fight going to Estoril for the LMGTE title.

“To be second in the championship in our first year is good going - it’s still all to play for, though.”

Ending the weekend still maintaining second in the LMGTE championship, the trio have a cushion of 12 points over third place and will look to hunt down the leaders in the final race of the season.

Estoril in Portugal will host the final race of the European Le Mans Series on Sunday, October 23.

2016 European Le Mans Series LMGTE Driver Standings (after Rd5): 2nd Alex MacDowall/Darren Turner/Andrew Howard, 73pts

2016 European Le Mans Series LMGTE Team Standings (after Rd5): 2nd Aston Martin Racing Beechdean Motorsport, 73pts