Surprise, surprise, surprise....

jimclark · 17 Jun 2001, 14:16 (Ref:106154)

...A well seserved 1, 2, 3, nonetheles.

Minardi fan · 17 Jun 2001, 14:21 (Ref:106155)

1. Biela/Pirro/Kristensen Audi (LMP900 winner)
2. Capello/Aiello/Pescatori Audi
3. Wallace/Leitzinger/van de Poele Bentley (LMGTP winner)
4. Beretta/Wendlinger/Lamy Chrysler
5. Deletraz/Fabre/Gene ROC
6. Boullion/Bourdais/Redon Courage (LMP675 winner)
7. Babini/Drudi/Rosa Seikel Porsche (GT winner)
10. Fellows/Pruett/O'Connell Corvette (GTS winner)

Well done the Bentley boys!!!

R · 17 Jun 2001, 14:58 (Ref:106162)

Yep, really big surprise (see predictions thread

). Still, to finish first, first you have to finish, so well done. Well done by Bentley too, though it was sad that the #7 Brundle car couldn't make it to the finish, they were much faster than the #8 car. I'm a little bit sad that the Pescarolo car with Bourdais ran into trouble, they were fighting for 3rd overall at the time.

Larsen · 17 Jun 2001, 18:15 (Ref:106204)

The surprice package has to be Bentley, i think they need to give themselves a pat on their back for doing i well done job. No doubt that Bentley was the surprice of the Le Mans

TimD · 18 Jun 2001, 23:53 (Ref:106668)

I have to say - the Bentley performance wasn't much of a surprise to me. Many components were tried and tested, the early testing form looked good, and the reliability seemed promising.

But that goes in no way to dissipate the sense of enormous pride and joy that I experienced when seeing number 8 cruising round on the final lap taking the flags and plaudits.

The surprise for me? Those extraordinary MG EX257 machines. For a significant chunk of the early evening they were the fastest cars on the track in any class. If they can get the reliability they will indeed be dangerous opponents for anyone.

djb · 19 Jun 2001, 03:58 (Ref:106725)

I thought of you Tim when the Bentley's were going well, that must have been a very exciting experience seeing Brundle leading and the second car finishing.
Were the MG's problems water related as well?

DNQ · 19 Jun 2001, 06:57 (Ref:106758)

Last year it was an Audi 1-2-3. This year a 1-2. next Year just a 1st?

jimclark · 19 Jun 2001, 21:56 (Ref:107092)

...it was one, two, three again this year.

SL · 19 Jun 2001, 22:15 (Ref:107100)

The main MG problem was a cracked exhaust. Changing that on both cars cost them track position. A few bumps with the armco along the way did not help. Finally an oil leak that had to be patched as they were not allowed to weld it (43 ?)

I'm not sure of the final death knell of the cars, but by this time they had lost far to much time.

Hopefully they will be at LM in 2002. Hints were also dropped on RAdoi LM about another car that is on the drawing boards. Maybe ALMS / ELMS ??

Simon

Truckosaurus · 21 Jun 2001, 13:34 (Ref:107875)

The new MG referred to above, for those who haven't yet seen the announcement, is going to be a restyled Qvale Mangusta, to which the MG Co. has bought the rights.

A potential GT3 entrant?

Liz · 21 Jun 2001, 19:45 (Ref:108022)

Am I missing something, or is Jimclark insisting that there was an AUDI 1-2-3 this year??? I was there and I could have sworn it was two Audis and a Bentley.

R · 21 Jun 2001, 20:15 (Ref:108030)

Maybe he lost count of the Audis? It can happen to the best of us...

I remember one time when I was at a soccer match, I actually lost count of the goals! There weren't that many either. I left the arena thinking that my team had lost 2-3, but when I read the newspaper the following day, I actually found out that the result had been a draw, 2-2! There hadn't been any disallowed goals either, I had just lost count...

Maybe that's what's happened to Jimclark too, he thought he saw three Audis when there in fact was only two!

Bluebottle · 21 Jun 2001, 21:55 (Ref:108062)

No, you're all wrong!
The first two cars were run by Joest, and the third by Team Bentley

Heeltoe6 · 21 Jun 2001, 23:01 (Ref:108077)

"I was there and I could have sworn it was two Audis and a Bentley."

if it has an audi powerplant, i don't care what nameplate they slap on it, it's an audi

TimD · 22 Jun 2001, 08:20 (Ref:108168)

And Sauber F1 cars come from Maranello...

...or was it those nice red Fiats that Mr Schumacher likes so much?

yelwoci · 22 Jun 2001, 09:03 (Ref:108176)

One could argue that all three cars were made by VW and powered by Audi engines and the Bentley was based on an aborted Audi project.

IanC

jimclark · 23 Jun 2001, 09:27 (Ref:108544)

Some just don't get it. Thank you Heeltoe....I see you do.

R, I'm afarid you don't. Exactly what was designed by Bentley?

Liz...you're just you.

Daisy the cow · 23 Jun 2001, 19:22 (Ref:108705)

So bring on the Lister! Then we'll have a real car maker in the fray. I'm not sold on this "no really, we ARE a Bentley, truely.." rubbish. Bentley makes ocean liners like the QE2, but with wheels. Yes I know thy're fast in a straight line, but really, isnt it a little deperate? "Bentley" just went throgh the parts of everyone else. At least MG sell something shaped like a sportscar, even if they're generic by design, it gives their racing credibility.

Bluebottle · 24 Jun 2001, 20:23 (Ref:109245)

The MGF? -thats not a sports car!!
I thought the Lola built 'MG's were very impressive- if they can get the reliability they need they'll storm it next year!- And yes it would be great to see a Lister/Jaguar at Le Mans again!

What's in a name?
Should we take the name of the engine builder, the engine designer, the chassis designer/builder, the main sponser or the team of people who pull the whole thing together and make it go?
:confused:

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