Bentley four hour report

Le Mans, 16TH June 2001 8.00pm... Team Bentley's two EXP Speed 8 prototypes have continued to cope with the dreadful weather conditions, with the number 7 and 8 cars lieing in 6th and 7th positions respectively. Both cars continue to run consistently through the rain, but are being hampered by poor visibility.

MARTIN BRUNDLE: `It was just fantastic to lead the race for Team Bentley, but it is so easy to fall off and we have to be very careful. You have to anticipate the weather conditions a long time before you reach them or you have absolutely had it.'

ANDY WALLACE: `The car is terrific, no major problems. I've been dodging spinning cars and when the Johansson Audi went off, I got clouted by bits of bodywork which loosened one of the wing mirrors, otherwise, everything on the car has been OK.'

RICHARD LLOYD, team principal: `Conditions make this a real baptism of fire with our new venture, but I'm confident we're coping very well under the circumstances.'

BRIAN GUSH, director of engineering operations and motorsport: `Our aim is to keep the car on the road. One issue with rain and a closed car is screen condensation and although much of the car's testing took place in the British winter, for once we didn't have much wet weather.'

-Bentley