Wednesday December 11th, 2002

Eddie Irvine has turned down the offer of a drive for Bentley in next year's Le Mans 24-Hour race despite being without a Formula One seat for 2003.

Bentley are keen to name Ulsterman Irvine, who finished second for Toyota in the endurance race in 1994, in their driver line-up and have held talks with his management.

But sacked Jaguar driver Irvine, who has been linked with a switch to Jordan, is still hopeful of securing a future in Formula One and has said he is unlikely to accept Bentley's offer of a seat.

"It is flattering to be asked, especially by as famous a name as Bentley," Irvine told Motorsport News. "Le Mans has featured in my career during the past but at the moment I am a Formula One driver.

"While I am still exploring options in that area I am not really considering anything else, although one must never say never in this game."

Allan McNish, Johnny Herbert, JJ Lehto and David Brabham are all in the frame with Irvine to compete for Bentley.

Published at 14:16:02 GMT

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