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Team ORECA Matmut have completed their driver line-up for Le Mans 24 Hours, with World Touring Car Championship star Tiago Monteiro to drive the number 10 car.

Monteiro, who features for the factory SEAT team in WTCC, joins Bruno Senna and Stephane Ortelli.

In the number 11 car Soheil Ayari has been chosen to compete alongside Olivier Panis and Nicolas Lapierre.

Portuguese Monteiro, who competed in Formula One in 2005 and 2006, had his first taste of the ORECA prototype during the winter.

He has already raced at Le Mans twice in the GT class. This will be his first time out in an LMP1.

"I'm happy to seize such a great opportunity," he said. "I'm going to make my first appearance in the top category with a superb car and a dream team.

"When I drove the ORECA 01 I re-experienced very strong sensations, very similar to those of taking control of an F1 car.

"There'll be a tremendous battle in 2009 as we'll be up against the major manufacturers. But we've got a lot of hopes pinned on the new car. I'm a born and bred fighter; I never give up."

Ayari has been defending the team's colours for several seasons as he won the French GT Championship in 2006 and 2007 as well as the GT1 title in the Le Mans series in 2007 with the Saleen-ORECA.

He has a lot of experience in the Sarthe event in which he has raced seven times, finishing eighth in 2008.

"I know the team, the car and the majority of the drivers, and that helps me tackle Le Mans in the best possible conditions," he said.

"Continuity is a crucial factor in motor racing and it's even truer in endurance. There has to be perfect, natural collaboration between the drivers, which will allow us to progress more quickly.

"We'll raise our sights higher this year thanks to the new car developed by the design office."

Le Mans 24 Hours takes place on June 13 and 14.

Eurosport