Team Bentley has revealed details of the 2002-specification EXP Speed 8 Le Mans GT Prototype with which it will contest the 24-hours of Le Mans on 15/16 and June 15/16.

At a first glance it might seem that little has changed from the car that last year drove through the worst Le Mans weather in living memory to claim third place overall.

In fact every component has been analysed and then retained, revised or replaced as required. By the end of this process little more than half of the original components were retained for the 2002 design.

As in 2001, the EXP Speed 8 will be the only car in the LM GTP category for closed prototypes.

The regulations differ principally from those that apply to the more commonly contested open prototype class by allowing a 1mm larger engine restrictor, but mandating two inch narrower tyres.

The brief handed down to Team Bentley's designers for the 2002 car was to create a car, which retained the outstanding construction quality and reliability of its forebear, but to improve its already considerable dynamic abilities in every area.

This meant more accessible performance, greater mechanical and aerodynamic grip, a more favourable downforce to drag ratio and better fuel consumption. Currently the car is on target to deliver every one of these critical considerations.

For petrolheads, here are some details of the engine. It has a new Bentley 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine has been developed for the EXP Speed 8 to replace the 3.6-litre unit used last year.

Unlike the earlier unit that was closely based on engines used by Audi's Le Mans cars, the 4.0-litre powerplant was commissioned by Bentley and designed to a unique and exclusive specification.

Perhaps surprisingly, the increase in engine size was not prompted by a desire for more power.

Le Mans regulations stipulate that 4-litre cars use a smaller restrictor than those displacing 3.6-litre offsetting all possible gains in outright power.

However, and as importantly, the 4.0-litre configuration offers the opportunity of creating more torque and spreading it over a wider area, so greatly enhancing the car1s driveability. So impressive are the gains made here that, in testing, the drivers reported that the engine's characteristics were more like those of a large capacity, normally aspirated engine, than a small, turbocharged unit.

The advantages of being able to combine the driveability of a normally aspirated engine with the compactness and light weight of a turbo unit would be significant anywhere, at Le Mans they are likely to prove crucial.