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<body> <Table Width="550" border="0" style="border-collapse: collapse" cellpadding="0"><TR><TD Width="35"><IMG SRC="//www.totalmotorsport.com/images/spacer.gif" WIDTH="35" HEIGHT="1"></td><td> <CENTER><Table border="0" width="100%"> <TR><TD width="100%" align="center"><B><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="5">LE MANS</FONT></B></TD></TR> <TR><TD width="100%" align="left"><B><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="2">09/01/2001</FONT></B></TD></TR> <TR><TD width="100%" align="center"><B><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="4">Three Bentley Drivers</FONT></B></TD></TR> <TR><TD width="100%" align="center"><B><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="3">For Le Mans</FONT></B></TD></TR> <TR><TD width="100%" align="center"><img border="1" src="Storage/versMansLE%20.jpg"></TD></TR> <TR><TD width="100%" align="center"><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="1">  </FONT></TD></TR> <TR><TD width="100%" align="left"><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="2">Andy Wallace, James Weaver and Butch Leitzinger are today confirmed as three of the Bentley drivers for Le Mans. They’re in Detroit today, for the formal announcement of Bentley’s 2001 Le Mans plans.<BR> <BR> The official release makes it clear that a maiden win isn’t expected; rather the target is a reliable finish and the acquisition of data for the following years when the Speed 8 “will race with its new Bentley engine.” <BR> <BR> For now, it uses the 3.6 litre Audi unit, “the sole component on the car that has not been designed from scratch exclusively for the EXP Speed 8.” The Xtrac gearbox has been designed specifically for the car.<BR> <BR> Designer Peter Elleray has concentrated on exploiting the aerodynamic advantages of the closed coupe, which will be opposed by only open prototypes this year. The GTP class allows the use of a 1mm larger restrictor, but only 14 inch wheels, compared to the 16 inch width of the open cars. The smaller size does confer an aerodynamic advantage though, although the simple fact of having a windscreen does mean one extra task at pit-stops – cleaning it.<BR> <BR> A shot of the front suspension elsewhere on this site reveals torsion bar springs at the front, which interfere less with the all important air flow under the front of the car.<BR> <BR> “To win (this year) would be almost unprecedented,” said Richard Lloyd. “The focus has to be on getting both cars to the finish.”<BR> <BR> The three drivers are the perfect combination to manage that, and need no introduction to readers of TotalMotorSport. <BR> <BR> The Detroit Show simultaneously sees the launch of the Bentley Arnage Red Label Long Wheelbase. Do Andy, James and Butch receive one each?<BR> </FONT></TD></TR> </TABLE><BR> </CENTER> <BR><CENTER><font size="1" color="#808080" face="Tahoma">Copyright ©2000-©2023 TotalMotorSport</font></CENTER> </td> </tr> </table> </body>