Three Oxfordshire area drivers are due to contest the 2002 Volkswagen Racing Cup.

Reigning champion Michael Neuhoff of Helmdon, near Banbury, who won last year's series in a VW Beetle RSI is competing again, while Alan Sawyer of Culworth, is driving a Golf VR6 and George Haynes of Drayton, competes in a Vento VR6.

The first event is at Donington Park on April 13/14 as part of a British F3/GT weekend.

Johnny Herbert has been recruited by Audi to drive one of their factory- entered sportscars in the Le Mans 24 Hours race, as the German manufacturer bids to win for a third consecutive year.

Herbert, 37, who won there in 1991, teams-up with Rinaldo Capello and fellow Italian Christian Pescatori at Le Mans on June 15-16, with the similar Infineon Audi R8 of former British Touring Car champion Frank Biela, Tom Kristensen and Emanuele Pirro - the 2000 and 2001 Le Mans race winners for Audi.

Herbert said: "I'm delighted Audi have given me another realistic opportunity to win what is arguably the world's toughest and most famous motor race.

"The Infineon Audi R8 finished one-two-three at Le Mans in 2000 and its two-car entry netted a one-two last year, so the Audi is without doubt the car to be driving in such a gruelling marathon."

Honda have confirmed that it will contest the British Touring Car Championship with a pair of Civic Type-R cars, driven by Andy Priaulx and Alan Morrison.

The cars will be run by Sussex-based Arena Motorsport, set up by former Formula 1 team owner Mike Earle.

Honda (UK) were a prominent player in the BTCC during the mid-1990s with the Honda Accord, but withdrew at the end of the 2000 season.

The Banbury-based Subaru World Rally Team have renewed their partnership with British American Tobacco and its cigarette brand 555, for at least the next three years.

This latest development is part of the close relationship between Subaru and British American Tobacco that stretches back almost nine years.