Even Morgan's race cars are handmade using wood

The Worcestershire-based company is entering the Sebring 12-hour endurance event in Florida later this month.

But Morgan Works is a minnow in the racing world and needs backers to help fund what is a very expensive sport.

Track success would also help the company's plans to sell ready-to-race works models for �150,000 each.

International stage

The Malvern-based company's managing director Charles Morgan said: "We've got about 70 firm orders at Los Angeles and we've appointed about 10 dealers across the whole of the United States.

"We're hoping for a market that's about as big as the whole of Europe put together."

Morgan Works manager David Dowse said: "We can offer a lot to sponsors who can work with us.

"The car (Morgan's racing Aero 8 GT) is very, very popular wherever it goes.

"There's a huge amount of exposure and on a very international stage."

Porsches defeated

Morgan cars already take part in the world's best known motor sport endurance contest - the Le Mans 24-hour race.

The company began competing there again two years ago after an absence of 35 years.

Morgan Works driver Adam Sharpe said: "People are surprised to see us out there in the Morgan compared to the Ferraris and Porsches, but we're getting very strong.

"In the last race at Le Mans we beat a couple of Porsches."

The Sebring race takes place on 15 March, with the Le Mans contest in June.