Bentley Drivers' Quotes

Johnny Herbert: "The car has great potential and I’m delighted with the way the car is performing. The times we have recorded are extremely positive, but there was really too much traffic to run quickly. It’s great working for Team Bentley and on the evidence gathered today I think we have good reason to be optimistic for the race itself."

Mark Blundell: "We’ve learned a great deal about the car today, and we have already made some productive changes. I’m really enjoying being part of such an historic team and look forward to seeing 80,000 British fans travelling to Le Mans to support us in June. I’ve got a great team with Johnny Herbert and David Brabham who are not only great guys but also very quick."

David Brabham: "The Bentleys have proven to be among the fastest cars here today, which given that we’ve really been working on the race set up rather than trying to break the lap record is very encouraging. When I was driving this morning, the track was incredibly dusty but it cleaned up a bit through the morning and the times soon started to come."

Tom Kristensen: "Of course it is the race that really matters, but today we proved beyond doubt that we have built and developed an extremely quick car. Any one of three drivers in the No 7 car could have earned the fastest lap today and I’d like to thank the whole team for the great effort they have put in over the last months to get us to Le Mans in such great shape. And I have no doubt at all that there is still more to come."

Dindo Capello: "Despite our problems we’ve ended up having a great day. We’ve been at the top of the time sheets all day so we could not have had a better beginning to our campaign to win Le Mans. My confidence in the team and with the car could not be higher."

Guy Smith: "Despite some concerns, we have made solid progress today. We had some problems with vibrations but as Tom proved, there can be no doubting the outright pace of the car. Like my team-mates I now look forward to the race in June with great anticipation. Clearly the car has the pace to excel in the race and it’s up to us to make sure it does."