EX-FORMULA One drivers Allan McNish and Johnny Herbert, plus Darren Turner, have been recruited in to the British Audi team's line-up which bids for sportscar honours this year.

McNish, 34, and Herbert, 39, join fellow Le Mans race winners Guy Smith and Frank Biela in the two-car Audi Sport UK Team Veloqx squad along with Turner, 29, Jamie Davies and sportscar newcomer Pierre Kaffer.

Audi UK's "Magnificent Seven" gun for success in the Sebring 12 Hours (March 20), Le Mans 24 Hours (June 12-13) and inaugural four-race Le Mans Endurance Series.

Audi will be bidding to score its fourth victory in five years at Le Mans.

Dumfries-born McNish has concentrated on Formula One for the past three years, testing for Toyota in 2001 and then contesting the FIA Formula One World Championship the following year for the Japanese team.

Last year, the Monaco-based Scotsman was Renault's official F1 test driver.

But McNish is no stranger to sportscar racing, having won Le Mans in 1998 and the American Le Mans Series with Audi in 2000, achieving second places in the annual French race and in the Sebring 12 Hours - two events Allan will now contest again.

"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, " said McNish.

"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."

Brentwood-born Herbert and triple Le Mans race winner Biela, 39, will only compete in this year's gruelling French marathon plus Sebring for the British Audi team.

Monaco-based 1991 Le Mans winner Herbert won three Grands Prix during a 12 year F1 stint and has spent the last three years racing for Audi in America.