Le Mans, 17TH June 2001, midday... With four hours to run the number 8 Bentley EXP Speed 8 continues to run quickly and smoothly. It has consolidated its hold on third place, in the last four hours extending it's lead over the fourth placed car from five to eight laps.

RICHARD LLOYD, team principal: 'This is what we call the twilight zone of the race. Mentally we have finished the race, but in reality we have something like three Grand Prix distances still to cover. Focus is everything, the team is exhausted but rising to the challenge magnificently.'

BRIAN GUSH, director of engineering operations and motorsport: 'We're in a period where all most of us can do is sit and hope the weather doesn't turn. We are confident we can keep up the current pace if the weather holds and stick to our race schedule. It's impossible not to think of the finish but I wouldn't say we were yet anything more than cautiously optimistic.'

ERIC VAN DE POELE: 'I can't tell you how much I'm enjoying myself but you have to keep an eye on the conditions which can catch you out if you stop thinking for a second.'

BUTCH LEITZINGER: 'The car is perfect, as good or better than when I first got into it. The track is interesting as the conditions change every lap. There seems to be a shower going round with the rest of us, appearing in different places around the lap just when you don't expect it.'