Ex-F1 driver Maldonado wants 'reset' after tough WEC debut at Spa

Maldonado topped all three practice sessions in DragonSpeed's #31 ORECA ahead of qualifying and charged from fifth on the LMP2 grid to second in the opening stint of the race.

But the Venezuelan was later beset by issues, as were team-mates Roberto Gonzalez and Nathanael Berthon, including a brief stoppage on track and a drivethrough penalty for speeding in the pitlane.

"I think the potential is good, as we saw at the beginning of the race, but so many things were happening and we got penalised because of that," Maldonado told Autosport after the #31 car ended up sixth in class at the finish, a lap down on the winning G-Drive ORECA.

"We need to reset a little bit, taking this race like a real learning book, to review all the details and start from that point.

"The pace is there, so we just need to put things together and then we can fight.

"It was very important to finish the race and know how to race in all situations - [on] old tyres, new tyres... it's good experience. The next one will be better.

"We were expecting to be fighting for victory. But we didn't put things together. We need to work harder, and learn from this one."

The Spa race was Maldonado's first world championship-level race since his final race for the Lotus-Renault outfit in F1 in 2015.

His next race with the DragonSpeed team will be the Le Mans 24 Hours next month.

"I'm learning, this is all new for me," he added.

"I'm trying to do my best, give my experience to the team and grow something very good. I feel ready to discover the experience [of Le Mans].

"The team is quite young but very professional, they are fighters. They want to do their best. They are confident.

"We need to enjoy what we are doing and try to push as much as possible."