Fresh from fifth place in the Silverstone Blancpain GT Endurance race Alex Brundle was hopeful of an equally good result at the Paul Richard 1000Km race in the R Motorsport Aston Martin V12 Vantage.

Eastern Daily Press: Alex Brundle in the R Motorsport Aston Martin V12 Vantage at the French Paul Ricard Circuit which he co-drives with Marvin Kirchhöfer and Maxime Martin. Picture: SRO/Patrick Hecq PhotographyAlex Brundle in the R Motorsport Aston Martin V12 Vantage at the French Paul Ricard Circuit which he co-drives with Marvin Kirchhöfer and Maxime Martin. Picture: SRO/Patrick Hecq Photography (Image: Archant)

However, all didn't go well for the King's Lynn racer in the event, which finished in the dark on Saturday evening, with the Aston Martin stymied by power train issues.

'Tough day with technical problems in 1000Km at Paul Ricard,' said Brundle after the race.

The meeting had started well for the R Motorsport squad with Brundle's team mates Matthieu Vaxiviere, Jake Dennis and Nicki Thiim, who won the Silverstone event, planting the #76 car on pole position.

Meanwhile the #62 car of Brundle, Marvin Kirchhöfer and Maxime Martin would start the event from seventh place on the 51 car grid.

While the pole sitting car immediately hit problems when a lack of engine power saw the #76 car swamped at the start before the engine would work correctly leaving the team way down in 25th place after the opening 30 minutes of racing.

Meanwhile the Brundle #62 car was comfortable in 10th place which it would hold for much of the opening period of the event.

As the event continued the #62 car held 15th place during the mid part of the race returning to 10th approaching the fifth hour of the event only for technical issues to retire the car but it still covered sufficient laps to be classified in 38th place while the #76 ended up in 31st place.

Brundle then hot footed his way to Le Mans to drive the CEFC TRSM Racing Ginetta G60 LT-P1 at the pre event test for the French classic 24 Hour race over the weekend of 16/17th June.

'Did not realise how much I missed Le Mans,' said Brundle.

'It's my first Le Mans in the LMP1 class and my fifth participation in the great race and I'll be aiming to repeat my overall podium finish from last season.'

The local racer was getting his first taste of competitive action in LMP1 machinery, having missed the opening World Endurance Championship event due to funding issues, and posted the 11th best lap time.