Grapevine: McNish, Herbert Return to Le Mans with Audi

Former winners Allan McNish and Johnny Herbert are to lead a British Audi team's bid for Le Mans success in June.

The decision by McNish to return to sportscars and the 24-Hour classic that he won in 1998 with Porsche signalled the end of the 34-year-old Scot's hopes of making a Formula One comeback with Jordan.

The former Toyota driver and 2003 Renault test driver had been talking to the Silverstone-based team about filling the sole remaining vacancy for the season starting in Australia on March 7.

He said in December after visiting the factory that he wanted the job and had made no secret of his desire to stay in Formula One. Italian Giorgio Pantano is now expected to take the seat as partner to Germany's Nick Heidfeld.

Audi Sport UK Team Veloqx said in a statement on Wednesday that McNish would join a "Magnificent Seven" that included 1991 winner Herbert, last year's winner Guy Smith, Jamie Davies and McLaren test driver Darren Turner.

Germany's three-times winner Frank Biela and sportscar newcomer Pierre Kaffer complete the lineup in the two-car team.

"It's great to have Allan back in an Audi R8 - the first time since winning the 2000 ALMS title," said Audi UK motorsport manager David Ingram in a statement. "He has always been a popular member of the Audi squad and his ability in the car will add considerable strength to our team."

McNish said: "I had a very successful and happy time when I was with Audi previously while Le Mans is a very special race and dear to my heart.

"The Audi R8 has been further developed since I raced one and is an outstanding sportscar. But Le Mans glory, in the actual 24 Hour race or the new series, will not be easy. We'll need to fight hard for victories."

McNish will also compete in the Sebring 12 Hours race in the United States, as will Herbert and Biela. Herbert, who won three Formula One Grands Prix before he retired in 2000, has raced for Audi in America for the past three years. He won Le Mans in 1991 with Mazda.

"I've finished second at Le Mans for the past two years - including 2002 with the 'factory' Audi team - and have regularly raced an Audi in America since 2001," he said.

"We'll be up against two similar Audis at Le Mans run by American and Japanese teams so it will be tough but I have every confidence in Veloqx and am looking forward to the challenge."

All drivers, except Turner, will test at Road Atlanta in Georgia later this month with a decision on driver combinations for Sebring to be made after that.