Amid scenes of extraordinary emotion in and around the pits, at 4.00pm this afternoon, Guy Smith drove his number 7 Bentley Speed 8 over the line. He was followed by David Brabham in the sister number 8 car to realise a dream that was a lifetime in the making. In the process Team Bentley broke Audi's three year stranglehold on this race, delivered maiden Le Mans wins to Dindo Capello and Guy Smith and allowed Tom Kristensen to join Derek Bell and Jacky Ickx as the only people ever to have won this race more than four times.
The great question at the start was whether the proven extra speed of the Speed 8 was enough to counter the extra time it would spend in the pits compared with the Audis. Brilliant driving from all six drivers, flawless pitwork, Michelin tyres that allowed triple and quadruple stints and legendary Bentley reliability provided the answer.

Dr Franz-Josef Paefgen, chairman and chief executive of Bentley Motors said,
"this is one of the greatest moments in our company's long history. On behalf of everyone at Crewe and all those who work for Bentley around the world, I'd like to thank every person at Team Bentley who helped make it possible. After 73 years we are delighted to have taken Bentley back to its roots with it's 6th victory at Le Mans."
Dindo Capello: "I have dreamt of winning this race. Le Mans is the biggest sportscar race in the world and it is great to add this victory to those I have at Sebring and Petit Le Mans. The team did a perfect job in the pits, we were able to push when we had to and then limit the risk to get the Bentley to the finish."

Tom Kristensen: "This was a great way to win my fifth Le Mans. We had a near perfect race on the track and a perfect one in the pits. I was able to do quick laps, especially at night. It was great to win with my long time driving partner Dindo; Guy has done an excellent job with the development of the car as well as driving a great race today. My thanks go to whole Bentley team."
Guy Smith: "Winning Le Mans was obviously a huge ambition but being on the podium was special for two other reasons. First I got to share it with Stefan Johansson who gave me my first chance in sportscars; secondly I was driving for Bentley who have shown great loyalty to me over the last three years. I hope that today I have repaid their faith in me."

1 Capello/Kristensen/Smith (Bentley) 377 laps
2 Brabham/Herbert/Blundell (Bentley) at 3 laps
3 Johansson/Lehto/Pirro (Audi R8) at 5 laps
4 Ara/Magnussen/Werner (Audi R8) at 7 laps
5 Beretta/Jeannette/Papis (Panoz) at 17 laps
6 Lammers/Bosch/Wallace (Dome-Judd) at 17 laps
7 Cochet/Gounon/Gregoire (Courage-Judd) at 17 laps
8 Boullion/Lagorce/Sarrazin (Courage-Peugeot) at 21 laps
9 Helary/Ayari/Minassian (Courage-Peugeot) at 25 laps
10 Kox/Enge/Davies (Ferrari) at 41 laps