Grapevine: Herbert, Blundell Team Up in Le Mans Bentley

Former winners Johnny Herbert and Mark Blundell will team up with Australian David Brabham as Bentley target victory in this year's Le Mans 24 Hour sportscar race.

"More than anything it's important that we get the job done this year," said Herbert after the announcement by Bentley today.

The three former Formula One drivers will drive the second Speed 8 prototype with the first car crewed by Denmark's Tom Kristensen, Italian Rinaldo Capello and Briton Guy Smith.

"Team Bentley believes it has now assembled as many of the components as humanly possible to deliver victory at Le Mans back to Bentley," the Volkswagen-owned marque said in a statement.

"We believe we have the right car, drivers, team and partners as well as the enthusiasm, guts and determination to get the job done." Part of the team's preparations will be the Sebring 12 Hours race, marking the first time a works Bentley has competed in the United States since 1922.

Herbert, Blundell and Brabham have 246 Formula One grand prix starts between them with Herbert winning Le Mans with Mazda in 1991 and Blundell triumphant with Peugeot in 1992.

Kristensen has won the last three editions of Le Mans for Audi, also part of the Volkswagen Group, with Germany's Frank Biela and Italian Emanuele Pirro. Capello was Herbert's teammate in the runner-up Audi last year.

Bentley were fourth at Le Mans last year after a podium finish on their return in 2001 to the race that built their sporting reputation with five victories by the "Bentley Boys" between 1924 and 1930.

"We are looking for success in 2003. I think it will be one of our two cars which wins Le Mans this year," said Blundell.