Blundell to make Le Mans return

The Briton will race one of the LMP 675 prototypes alongside fellow former Grand Prix driver Julian Bailey and British Touring Car Championship runner-up Anthony Reid.

The Rover-owned make announced five drivers last month and although not yet officially announced, Blundell is certain to be the sixth. A team spokesman said: "We know who the final driver will be, but we can't reveal who it is yet."

It is believed that for MG's first attempt at Le Mans since the 1960s, the Chamberlain Motorsport-run team has been asked by the organisers to choose drivers who have contested endurance races before - Blundell fits that bill.

Blundell lost his Champ Car seat with PacWest at the end of last season, after a five-year stint in the US-based series. Since then, the Englishman has been angling for a return to the race that netted him a win with Peugeot in 1992. Blundell was one of three drivers linked to the final seat in the Bentley EXP Speed 8, but lost out to former F1 team mate Martin Brundle.

The 34-year old, who contested 61 Grands Prix with McLaren, Ligier, Brabham and Tyrrell, will drive the Lola-built chassis in the lightweight LMP 675 category. Although less powerful than their LMP 900 rivals, insiders claim that the lighter weight and better fuel economy of the secondary cars could net them an overall win.

Blundell is to join ITV's television coverage of this weekend's Australian Grand Prix as a studio pundit. The Blundell and Brundle partnership that raced together at Brabham and Ligier could be re-united for up to nine races during the 2001 season.