Punctures for British hopefuls Rob Huff and Andy Priaulx ruined any chance of home success as Brands Hatch hosted rounds 13 and 14 of the World Touring Car Championship.

Around 35,000 fans witnessed Sunday’s racing action and a flat tyre denied Brit Rob Huff from claiming a victory in race one.

The Chevrolet driver saw his chances of victory disappear with just two laps remaining, allowing Muller to take the chequered flag, ahead of new championship leader Yvan Muller and Priaulx.

“Robert pushed really hard,” said Jorg Muller. “I’m sorry for him but thanks to him I won the race.”

That third place was enough to lift Priaulx up into third in the championship standings but he was soon experiencing the same anguish as Huff.

Priaulx was sitting sixth before he suffered a deflated front right tyre at Sheene.

Swiss racer Alain Menu grabbed the win ahead of SEAT’s Felix Porteiro and Alex Zanardi.

Priaulx said: “I was pretty happy with my result, we had a great warm up, the car had the pace, but I was limited by Yvan Muller’s mid-corner speed (in race one) and couldn’t make any head way.

“A podium was great. Unfortunately race two was disappointing, but these things happen, you cannot expect to win every race.”

Priaulx had something to smile about after the Touring Car action when he set a new unofficial lap record at the Brands Hatch circuit.

In a BMW F1 car, Priaulx clocked 1min 14.313secs to shave just one tenth of the previous best from A1GP racer Robbie Kerr.