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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">02/11/2000</FONT></B></TD></TR> <TR><TD width="100%" align="center"><B><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="4">Bentley At Le Mans In 2001</FONT></B></TD></TR> <TR><TD width="100%" align="center"><B><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="3">It's Decided</FONT></B></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"> Bentley Motors’ Chief Exceutive Tony Gott: “I am thrilled to confirm that Bentley Motors will be back at Le Mans - next year. Obviously this is a terrific opportunity for Bentley Motors whose reputation was founded on its racing success of the 1920s and early 1930s.”<BR> <BR> The car, to be known as the Bentley EXP Speed 8, is being built in England by Racing Technology Norfolk, and the programme will be managed by Richard Lloyd, at Apex Motorsport in Buckingham. It will run as a closed LM GTP, and be powered by a Bentley version of the race winning Audi twin turbo V8, “which is being extensively developed and will feature new turbo technology, cooling and induction and exhaust systems,” explained Tony Gott. “This transitional strategy of using proven engine technology from within the Group will enable us to return to Le Mans in 2001 and, more importantly, will enable us to ‘shake down’ our all-new chassis and body - whilst developing an all-new Bentley Le Mans engine for future years.”<BR> <BR> The ‘all-new chassis and body’ is thought not to be related to the Audi R8C of 1999. It’s a bold venture to go the GTP route rather than with an open prototype, the style of which totally dominated this year’s Prototype Le Mans entry. Cadillac had to work hard to design a Cadillac ‘look’ to their open prototype: a closed car will logically make a Bentley identity easier to create.<BR> <BR> Referring to the Benley wins in the 20s, Gott concluded: “History is not our main reason for returning to Le Mans. Our future road products will benefit directly from our racing activities, wherever we finish in the race itself.”</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>