Birmingham-based MG Motor UK is marching back into the world of motorsport with high hopes of competing in the legendary 24 Hour Le Mans race in France next year.

The Longbridge car-maker has unveiled a partnership with Le Mans Series rising star Team RLR.

And history has come full circle with the Lancashire-based team’s MG Lola EX265 car coming back to its roots.

The vehicle was originally an MG Rover works race car that is not only still going strong but demonstrating the potential to succeed at the highest level.

MG Motor UK’s sales and marketing director Guy Jones said: “This car was originally built and funded by MG and developed as the works MG racing car between 2003 and 2008.

“It successfully took the class win at Le Mans in 2006 and the drivers’ team and driver’s title in the Le Mans Series in 2007.”

Now the car is back and Team RLR has seen a rapid ascent up the rankings, having only started competing in the Le Mans Series in 2010.

It began racing in Hungary and this year it has already claimed a fourth in class placing at Spa Francorchamps in Belgium in May.

Now the team is eagerly looking forward to the next race in the five-race series at Silverstone.

Ordinarily teams competing in the Le Mans Series have to spend several years perfecting their craft and learning how to cope with a raft of stringent regulations before achieving even a modest level of success allowing them entry to the classic 24 Hour Le Mans race in France.

If it gets to compete at Le Mans next year the 500bhp car, which has a restricted top speed of 180mph and a 0-60mph time of around three seconds, will also be competing in the lead class, due to changes in regulations.

For Team RLR a tie-up with MG Motor UK is a dream come true, having identified the car as a potential winner.

Team principal Nick Reynolds said: “This car has been around for quite a while but we knew it was a good car to get hold of because it has been so successful – and it is reliable.”

A new Judd engine has given it a new lease of life but the MG Motor UK sponsorship deal could reap huge dividends for both partners in the long term.

Mr Jones said the skills of the 300 engineers working in R&D at Longbridge would be utilised to help develop the car, with the bonus of technology from motorsport one day making its way into MG production cars made at Longbridge.

Although the sponsorship tie-up is still at an early stage it has already been hailed as a triumphant return for the Longbridge firm, which is now owned by Chinese automotive giant SAIC.

“Motorsport has always been part of MG and we have been looking at a cost-effective way to get back into it, without the cost of running our own team,” said Mr Jones. “This sponsorship deal is the perfect solution.

“Here is a team we believe is going to be competitive and it is the only MG running at this level of motorsport.

“It is an exciting day for MG to be supporting such a high profile level of motorsport.

“The 24-hour event in Le Mans has become one of the motorsport social events of the year.”