Team Bentley has disclosed some details about the 2002-specification EXP Speed 8 Le Mans GT Prototype, which Oxford driver Andy Wallace will drive in this weekend's 24-hours of Le Mans.

At 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, but little more than half of the original components were retained for the 2002 design.

As in 2001, the EXP Speed 8 which will be driven by Wallace, Butch Leitzinger and Eric van de Poele, will be the only car in the LM GTP category for closed prototypes.

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.

Maximum power is developed at a much lower engine speed, although the engine will safely rev as high as its predecessor.

The most important innovation is the use of direct injection. Injecting fuel directly into the combustion chamber greatly improves engine efficiency, and fuel consumption.

The Xtrac-supplied, six-speed semi-automatic gearbox, used last year, has run faultlessly throughout testing.

Modifications have been made to the aerodynamic performance of the car, resulting in a big improvement in the downforce to drag ratio.

The new front suspension of the 2002 Bentley EXP Speed 8 is designed to provide front-end grip and every major component has been redesigned for 2002.