Ferrari on fire, Bentley beached.
Two leading British entries in the 70th Le Mans 24 Hours hit problems in the 13th hour, as the GTS leading Prodrive Ferrari caught alight and the sole Bentley visited the gravel trap.
The most dramatic of the two incidents has the long-time GTS leader ablaze at the Porsche Curves with race rookie Alain Menu at the wheel. Corvette driver Oliver Gavin, who was second in class with the first of the C5-Rs, reported seeing smoke coming from the back of the 550 Maranello some time before its demise, and the fire now appears to have ended the Banbury-based Prodrive's charge to glory.
Two leading British entries in the 70th Le Mans 24 Hours hit problems in the 13th hour, as the GTS leading Prodrive Ferrari caught alight and the sole Bentley visited the gravel trap.
The most dramatic of the two incidents has the long-time GTS leader ablaze at the Porsche Curves with race rookie Alain Menu at the wheel. Corvette driver Oliver Gavin, who was second in class with the first of the C5-Rs, reported seeing smoke coming from the back of the 550 Maranello some time before its demise, and the fire now appears to have ended the Banbury-based Prodrive's charge to glory.
In a less- final incident, Eric van de Poele beached the lone Bentley EXP Speed 8 in the gravel trap at the entrance to the pit-lane, apparently after he was obstructed by a slower GT class Porsche. The Belgian, who was in his first stint after replacing Andy Wallace behind the wheel, had been setting the fastest laps of the race in the British Racing Green machine before the faux pas, but managed to rejoin after being towed from the gravel and checked over in pit-lane.
