Wallace 'gutted' to miss out on podium

"Under the circumstances, this was the best result we could have had," admitted Wallace. "Both car and team coped extremely well with the pressure and while I'm a bit gutted not to be back on the podium, we did our best."

Wallace was at the wheel when the EXP Speed 8 suffered a problem with a faulty compressor on a turbo wastegate, which cost the team several minutes in the pits as it was repaired. The car dropped to as low as 18th, but thereafter it ran reliably and by the time night fell it was up to fifth.

The retirement of the lead MG promoted it a further position, which the team held to the end. The car was very consistent and Bentley is confident that the lessons learnt this year will help it achieve its goal of victory in 2003.

"The new Bentley engine has proved itself beyond doubt and the team performed wonderfully," enthused Bentley chairman Franz-Josef Paefgen. "With the improvements we know we can make, it is fair to say we will be in good shape to achieve our goal of outright victory next year."