Bentley signs Brundle for Le Mans

The former Benetton, McLaren and Jordan Grand Prix driver won the French sportscar classic in 1990 with the TWR Jaguar team, and looked on course to repeat the feat with Toyota in 1999 until a puncture wrecked his chances. As Le Mans doesn't clash with a Grand Prix this season, he won't have to give up his seat in the ITV commentary box either.

"I've not had a lot of time to myself until recently and hadn't given much thought to driving this year," he told British National paper the Daily Express. "When Bentley approached me it did not take much convincing to join their team."

Brundle, 41, has got the nod over ex-Jaguar driver Johnny Herbert, who recently admitted his interest in the seat when he was announced as test driver for Arrows. Herbert's remaining chances of a Le Mans seat rest with Panoz, Lola-MG and the privateer Champion Audi team, although he may focus on an Indy Racing League programme. Brundle, meanwhile, took a year out of racing last year due to his television commitments as well as working with the British Racing Drivers' Club to ensure the British Grand Prix remained at Silverstone.

"For the first time in 28 years I had no racing events in 2000 and, although I kept my hand in with some Formula One cars and the McLaren two-seater, I missed it very much," he added. "I may be seen as a commentator but I feel like a racing driver. Winning in the first year after starting fairly late will be tough, especially with the Audis which won last year competing again. It is going to be fun trying."

He joins 1998 Le Mans winner Stephane Ortelli from France and Humbersider Guy Smith in the second Bentley EXP Speed 8 in the 24-hour event. Ortelli previously won the race with the works Porsche team, and has since been a consistent leading light in its pan-European Supercup series as well as finishing second at Le Mans last year in a factory-run Audi R8. Smith, meanwhile, raced in the sub-CART Indy Lights series before switching to sportscars two years ago with ex-Ferrari F1 star Stefan Johansson's team.

The trio enhance the already impressive driver line up of Andy Wallace, James Weaver and Butch Leitzinger. The French endurance classic is held on June 16-17.