Team Bentley has confirmed that it will run under one roof at racing technology norfolk (rtn), under the responsibility of Bentley Motors.

The team will continue to be run directly from Crewe with Brian Gush - who is Bentley's director of chassis, powertrain and motorsport - at its helm.

John Wickham, who has so skilfully managed Team Bentley's back-to-back successes at Le Mans, has been appointed team director.

Based at rtn, Wickham will continue running the operational functions of the race and test programmes, while rtn will continue to design, develop and build the Bentley Speed 8 Le Mans prototype race cars.

Gush said: "Two races will be entered, the Sebring 12-hours in March and, of course, the Le Mans 24-hours in June."

Vital work needs to be done to ensure the team is race ready in time - not least the design and construction of a further evolution of the Bentley Exp Speed 8.

It is anticipated that two 2003-specification Bentley Speed 8 prototypes will start in June with the aim on improving the fine results of 2001 and 2002.

The driver line-ups for both Sebring and Le Mans is undecided.