Bentley defends one-car decision

Last year the British manufacturer took a superb third place on its first race at La Sarthe for 71 years. The team ran two of its EXP Speed 8s so that when one retired early in the race, the other was on hand to continue the team's challenge.

The decision for a works team to come to Le Mans with just one car raised eyebrows when it was announced. But motorsport director Brian Gush ruled out that the move had been made in deference to sister marque Audi, which is also owned by the Volkswagen Group.

"If we find ourselves in a position to win, we will go for it," he said. "It would be an insult to our drivers to lift for anyone. There are no group orders. Bentley is not in the business of fixing races. If I didn't think we had a chance to win we wouldn't be here."

It has been confirmed that Bentley will take in next year's Sebring 12 Hours in the US as part of its preparations for next year's Le Mans.

"From the beginning, we have said this is a three year programme, minimum," Gush said. "We have a new 4-litre engine here this year, and this move to run one car is strategy-driven."

"We will include one race in America and then have a minimum of two cars here next year to make us well-placed for outright victory. But it should be remembered that in Bentley's second-ever Le Mans in 1924, they only had one car and they won the race..."

Butch Leitzinger, one of the three 'Bentley Boys' this year, said Sebring is a perfect test for a car and team to prepare for Le Mans. "It's like hitting the car with a sledgehammer for 12 hours," said the American. "They are very different races, but Sebring is the perfect training for Le Mans. It put the team under fire like no test can."