The Bentley Boys flew into the top ten in warm-up trials for this year's Le Mans 24 Hour race.

The car driven by Martin Brundle clocked third fastest in the test session at the French circuit, and Oxford's Andy Wallace's car was seventh quickest.

Other British drivers were also flying during the test session, with Leafield-based Orange Arrows team test driver Johnny Herbert second fastest in an Audi R8.

Defending champions Audi clocked the fastest two times at the eight-hour test in France. Andy Wallace

The 'privateer' Audi R8 of the 36-year-old former Grand Prix driver averaged almost 140mph around the 8.45-mile circuit on his maiden drive for the German manufacturer.

About 50 cars took advantage of the one-off opportunity to practise for this year's marathon race, which is staged on June 16-17.

*Proton Team KR rider Jurgen van den Goorbergh finished 13th in the third round of the 2001 World Championship, in the Spanish Grand Prix at Jerez.

The Banbury-based team and rider were disappointed by the result, after a perfect launch from the third row of the grid saw the Mk3 version of the three-cylinder Proton KR3 finish the first lap in fourth position.

*Rally driver Shelly Taunt, of Highworth, and co-driver Kevin Plunkett, of Kings Sutton, near Banbury, will be competing at the Longcross track, in Surrey, on Sunday in the second round of the Rally 2001 Championship.