JONNY Lang signed off the season in sensational style in the sun-kissed surroundings of Dubai.

And, running with Dutchman Rory Bertrum, the Nelson flier achieved his best results of the year in the FIA GT3 European Championship, finishing second and third and only narrowly missing out on the chequered flag on both occasions.

Lang explained: "We qualified fifth and sixth for the two races. I started the first race of the weekend.

"I had a great start and fought with the pole sitting corvette for the first corner.

"The corvette won that corner but then went on to spin in the next, and by the end of the first lap I was in the lead.

"I just had to keep my old Porsche team mate, Phil Quaiffe behind me in the other Ascari, and look after the tyres until the pit stop. I handed the car over with a four second gap to the car behind.

"Rory took over and did a great job, but after all the pit stops had played out we found ourselves in second place.

"It turned out that the team had calculated the stop in the pits to be five seconds longer than we needed.

"Unfortunately, despite Rory's efforts he couldn't get past the Corvette, and we finished the race 1.4 seconds behind!

"It was a great start to the weekend and the team were overjoyed, as it was their best result to date. It was also my best result of the year and a welcomed change."

The starting drivers were reversed for the second race the following day, and starting from sixth on the grid, Bertrum was determined to go one better.

However, after having problems getting the tyres to come up to temperature, he dropped down to eighth and set about making up some of the time, before coming in for the driver change in seventh position.

Land added: "Making sure that things went right this time, the team did a perfect stop, and I entered back onto the circuit side by side with another Corvette, which I just squeezed pass for the first corner for P5.

"I just pushed as hard as I could and began overtaking everything I could see, until the safety car was called out.

"This bunched up the whole field and allowed me to take stock of the position.

"I was P3 behind the leading Aston, and the Corvette battling for the Championship.

"There were also a few back markers spreading us out which meant the restart, 10 mins from the end, was chaos.

"I picked up a lot of rubber and dirt on my tyres, trying to keep them warm during the SC period, which made the car feel awful. I actually thought I'd picked up a puncture."

After the restart Lang slipped down to fifth, with the Ferrari and Quaiffe's Ascari getting past.

But he was not to be outdone and showed grit and determination to battle his way back, although it wasn't through the lack of events.

He said: "We ended up having a four-car battle going into the first corner. I was on the inside, pinned against the pit wall by Quaiffe. Everyone braked late and I had a huge wobble as the rears locked up, but determination - and a bit of luck - kept me pointing in the right direction, and I found myself in the next corner behind the Aston in second.

"The brakes were becoming a bit of a problem, but for the last few laps it was just flat out, chasing the Aston, and keeping the others behind me.

"On the last lap, the title chasing Ferrari got me on the brakes, with a great move, which left me to battle home for third.

"Once again the team was ecstatic, and nobody deserved more than them as they had worked hard all weekend in the blazing heat of the desert.

"It was the most exciting race of the year and one I'm glad to have been part of up at the front.

"A superb way to finish the year. I don't know what next year's car will be yet, but I'm looking forward to hunting a title again."

Lang would like to thank sponsors Aston ventures - Investment Catalysts; IWI Watches, based in Blackburn, and Synergy bathroom solutions.