Factory Porsche aces for Orbit

The pair will share the team's 911 GT3 RSR with New Yorker Leo Hindery, who has two Le Mans starts to his name, and co-drove a Porsche with Lieb and Peter Baron to second in the GT class in last year's French classic. Hindery also drove alongside Rockenfeller and Baron in this year's Sebring 12 Hours.

Lieb said: "Last year, it was important for me to get to know the track, to get to know the race and to just do it for the first time. This year, we definitely need to go for the win. Last year, we had a very conservative car, easy to drive for 24 hours, but this year we're trying to have an aggressive car, a faster car. We'll make some changes to the setup of the car and it should be good."

Rockenfeller was surprised by his Le Mans invitation. "It's definitely the highlight of the year 2004 and my career," he said. "I can't describe it. It's a dream to drive at Le Mans. I didn't expect that I would drive this year; I'm 20-years old. It's a great, great chance, and we will be strong. It's not like you're driving at Le Mans but you know you can't win; we are fighting for the victory. I still can't believe it! It's really, really cool."

The trio will take part in a preliminary track test on April 25. The 24-hour race is scheduled for June 12 and 13.

Meanwhile, Rockenfeller will tune up for the Le Mans test with his first German Carrera Cup race of the season in Hockenheim, Germany on April 18. He finished a close second in the 2003 series and started 2004 with the quickest time in pre-season testing.