The Charouz Racing Systems team secured 'best of the rest' honours behind the factory diesels in the Le Mans Series with a fine second place in the final round of the season at Silverstone.

Jan Charouz and Stefan Mucke took a second podium finish of the campaign in the season finale which proved to be good enough to take fifth in the championship standings, behind only the factory diesel drivers.

Mucke started the race and produced a fine drive in the early stages to dominate the petrol runners and take the fight to the diesels. Charouz managed to lead the race during his stint while the team ran without any major problems, although there was a scare when contact with a slower car led to a precautionary pit-stop.

With Mucke back behind the wheel for the run to the flag, the team successfully came home in second place for a seasons best result, bettering the third place secured in the opening round of the year in Spain.

“I am overjoyed,” team boss Antonin Charouz said. “Such result is a great way to finish the season. It was an amazing view when we were ran in the same pace like Audi turbodiesel in the middle of the race. I was few times worried – small collision or wiring problem- but we overcame them and we pleased not only ourselves but I believe also Czech fans. Thanks to the whole team for a perfect job through the season.”

The result also capped a fine end to the year for the closed coupe Lola fitted with the engine from the GT1 Aston Martin DBR9.

“Today's result for the LMP1 Aston Martin powered prototype is fantastic,” AMR technical director George Howard-Chappell said. “Congratulations to both drivers. It was a good season."