Bentley News

rdjones · 17 Dec 2002, 21:19 (Ref:452103)

Just picked this up another forum and from the Speed Channel Web site:-

Team Bentley will enter its Speed 8 sports prototypes in the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring—the American Le Mans Series season opener—next March. A two-car entry is planned as a shakedown for the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June. No drivers were announced, but Bentley Motors Chairman Franz-Josef Paefgen pledged to secure “the very best drivers available.”

This is the third year of competition for the Bentley Speed 8, which was built to Le Mans' GTP class regulations for closed-cockpit prototype. In its 2001 Le Mans debut—marking Bentley’s return to motorsports after a 71-year absence—Team Bentley finished first in its class, and third overall. This past June, Bentley’s lead car finished fourth overall in the endurance classic.

For 2003, Team Bentley will be integrated under one roof at racing technology norfolk in Norfolk, England. Team Bentley will continue to be run directly by Bentley Motors in Crewe, with Brian Gush, Bentley’s director of chassis, powertrain and motorsport, at its helm. John Wickham, who managed the team’s Le Mans program the past two years, has been appointed team director, reporting to Gush. Based at rtn, Wickham will continue running the operational functions of the race and test programs.

Sebring 2003 will mark only the second time that Bentley works cars will have raced on American soil. In 1922 a works Bentley 3-liter competed in the Indianapolis 500. Onlookers were stunned when the British car was uncrated from its sea voyage, and took to the track immediately! The car proved totally unsuitable for the event, but still managed to finish in 13th place, the last car to complete the full 200 laps!

Much of this we already knew, but it is good to see that John Wickham is still going to be involved. I just they hurry up and tell us who is going to be driving the cars

RacingManiac · 17 Dec 2002, 21:39 (Ref:452124)

That would be a problem no? Wallace is dropped, and now he is for Dyson. Butch will be for Dyson as well, unless he should decide to do a Bentley....Is the "Private" Joest team going to run Sebring or VAG group will intervene and get the Joest people to drive it?

rdjones · 17 Dec 2002, 21:53 (Ref:452134)

Quote:

Originally posted by RacingManiac
That would be a problem no? Wallace is dropped, and now he is for Dyson. Butch will be for Dyson as well, unless he should decide to do a Bentley....Is the "Private" Joest team going to run Sebring or VAG group will intervene and get the Joest people to drive it?

From what I understand both Butch and Wallace will not be seen the Bentley which is a shame after all the good work they have done in the last 2 years.

**Aysedasi** · 17 Dec 2002, 21:55 (Ref:452137)

A shame?

No, I call it an immense waste.

rdjones · 17 Dec 2002, 22:10 (Ref:452157)

Quote:

Originally posted by Aysedasi
A shame?

No, I call it an immense waste.

I think we should start a campaign to get them back into the car..........

pirenzo · 17 Dec 2002, 22:20 (Ref:452174)

Do Dyson run at Le Mans?

If not then Butch and Wallace might be able to make it.

But anyhow I think that Bentley are most likely to win since there will be no factory Audi presence.

Then, given the new rules for 04, which will as MulsanneMike pointed out on his site, likely neccessitate a switch to closed roof cars(since the rules regarding the roll hoop with muck up the aero), which will give Bentley a 3 year advantage so I expect Bentley to win in 03 and 04

RacingManiac · 17 Dec 2002, 22:24 (Ref:452180)

Quote:

Originally posted by pirenzo
Do Dyson run at Le Mans?

If not then Butch and Wallace might be able to make it.

But anyhow I think that Bentley are most likely to win since there will be no factory Audi presence.

Then, given the new rules for 04, which will as MulsanneMike pointed out on his site, likely neccessitate a switch to closed roof cars(since the rules regarding the roll hoop with muck up the aero), which will give Bentley a 3 year advantage so I expect Bentley to win in 03 and 04

or another period of Audi domination, as apparently they might build a new coupe under 04 rule....and I can only imagine they'll keep Joest.....

Russfeld · 17 Dec 2002, 22:26 (Ref:452182)

Since when is there no factory Audi? 2 Joest R8s are showing up with factory drivers, engineers, and money, and Audi Sport UK are going to be running a car. How are those not factory entries?

John Wickham ran bentley? i thought it was Richard Lloyd and Apex

rdjones · 17 Dec 2002, 22:43 (Ref:452200)

Quote:

Originally posted by Russfeld
Since when is there no factory Audi? 2 Joest R8s are showing up with factory drivers, engineers, and money, and Audi Sport UK are going to be running a car. How are those not factory entries?

John Wickham ran bentley? i thought it was Richard Lloyd and Apex

No they have decide to move the project in house and away from Richard Lloyd and Apex.

pirenzo · 18 Dec 2002, 08:16 (Ref:452449)

I think it's a Joest team, which Audi Sport have lent to Joest to keep them warm for 04

But yes, the Joest outfit is basically a factory team.

Mind you, joest have won le mans 3 times as a private entry before.

pirenzo · 18 Dec 2002, 08:19 (Ref:452451)

[B][QUOTE]or another period of Audi domination, as apparently they might build a new coupe under 04 rule....and I can only imagine they'll keep Joest..... [QUOTE][B]

Porsche 956/62 Mk II here we come

pirenzo · 18 Dec 2002, 08:19 (Ref:452453)

again damnit

why doesn't that quote thing work when you do it manually?

Cynic · 18 Dec 2002, 08:32 (Ref:452460)

According to Autosport, Audi will only provide Joest with the cars and parts. Audi are not going to undertake anymore development work so in theory Joest won't have any advantage over the privateer teams, other than whatever development package they have now.
I can't see Bentley winning in 04, because they will probably want to build a new car to the revised rules. I reckon Audi will build four cars and badge two of them as Audi's.

SFonseca · 18 Dec 2002, 10:12 (Ref:452516)

Let's see what Bentley cars can do at Sebring...

'Bentley official factory team' vs 'Joest Audi privateer ream'

Fogelhund · 18 Dec 2002, 12:24 (Ref:452591)

Quote:

Originally posted by pirenzo
again damnit

why doesn't that quote thing work when you do it manually?

You have forgotten the back slash before the 'b' and the 'quote' at the end... [/b]

Nordic · 18 Dec 2002, 12:35 (Ref:452596)

There never was a 'works' Audi team other than the Joest team was there?
Arena, Champion & Goh where all private with only a small amount of factory/Joest help.
Beyond the design & Build, the only ongoing imput from Audi was the Engines, this will contine, so the only diffrence next year may be the colour.
This year the cars where miles faster than anything else and seem pretty bullet proof, so even without any extras from Audi's R/D dept the cars should be the ones to beat.

**Aysedasi** · 18 Dec 2002, 13:50 (Ref:452662)

Quote:

Originally posted by Nordic
so even without any extras from Audi's R/D dept the cars should be the ones to beat.

So come on everybody, let's beat 'em!

rdjones · 18 Dec 2002, 22:34 (Ref:452984)

Quote:

Originally posted by Aysedasi
So come on everybody, let's beat 'em!

I hope they do............

SL · 18 Dec 2002, 23:02 (Ref:453015)

Whats that well known petrol additive made by Tate & Lyle.

Do you think the Germans will believe us if we tell them?

Simon

cybersdorf · 18 Dec 2002, 23:09 (Ref:453023)

"'We haf vays of beating ze Germans', says Bentley chairman Franz-Josef Paefgen..." - somewhere along the way, something must have gone horribly wrong for the British automobile industry...

Garrett · 19 Dec 2002, 02:31 (Ref:453137)

One race by Bentley on American grounds? Well, I look forward to seeing them in March. I hope someone else wins (hint hint, Bentley) rather than Audi.

Speeddemon555 · 24 Dec 2002, 04:58 (Ref:456577)

Bentley Speed 8s will be at Sebring with a Letzinger/Wallace pairing likely in one of those prototypes.

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