Bentley leads, Pilbeam out.

Martin Brundle has taken the lead for the returning Bentley marque under pace car conditions when Laurent Aiello made a lengthy pit-stop under caution but the race has already ended for Ray Rowan's Pilbeam operation.

It may be inside the opening hour and it may be behind the pace car but Bentley is leading at Le Mans.

During a chaotic opening 30 minutes at Le Mans, Martin Brundle has taken the lead in the No.7 Bentley Speed 8 after Laurent Aiello made a lengthy early pit-stop, which dropped him to 29th position. Brundle then continued to extend his lead over second place man Frank Biela in the No.1 Audi when the pace car finally returned to the pit-lane.

However it is not all joy for the British contingent at Le Mans as the tiny Pilbeam operation is already out of the race after sustaining heavy damage in a multi-car accident in the Porsche Curves in which driver Martin O'Connell was lucky to emerge unscathed.

O'Connell came across a scene of carnage in what is one of the fastest, most flowing parts of the 8.45-mile course and was confronted with the site of a pair of Viper's, a Saleen and a Courage sitting across the track. With no other option the former Formula Three expert attempted to spin the car in avoidance but struck the barrier with the rare of the car, completely decimating the rare suspension assembly.

Another heartbreaking story in the opening hour of Le Mans is the trials and tribulations of David Terrien in the FFSA entered Viper, which was severely damaged in the accident that claimed Rowan's Pilbeam. With no front end left on the blue Viper and no way of steering the front wheels. Terrien is currently attempting to affect repairs at the end of the pit-lane where the car is beached after it failed to negotiate the twisty pit-lane entrance.