LE MANS, France, 16 June 2003 — Bentley claimed their first victory in the Le Mans 24-Hours race in 73 years yesterday.

Briton Guy Smith brought the number seven car home two laps ahead of the Bentley team’s second entry after completing 377 laps. Dane Tom Kristensen, who partnered Smith and Italian Rinaldo Capello, created history as the first man to win the race four years in a row after victory with Audi for the past three years.

But it was a first Le Mans success for Smith and Capello.

The Bentley of Britons Johnny Herbert, Mark Blundell and Australian David Brabham completed a one-two for the team in the final 12 months of their three-year program to win Le Mans.

Bentley were fourth last year after a podium finish on their return in 2001 to the race that built their sporting reputation with five victories by the “Bentley Boys” between 1924 and 1930.

Kristensen, who now has five career wins at Le Mans, said: “Our car ran beautifully and I have to say thanks to everyone involved in this project. I’m happy to be chosen to be a small part of it and to drive the car.”

Capello started from the front row of the grid after Kristensen had secured pole and the Bentley was never headed.

“As a driver you have to win Le Mans,” said Capello. “I’ve done that now it feels great. It is a special emotion.”

Favorites following the decision of the works Audi team not to defend their title, Bentley proved too quick for the privateer Audis and minor scares overnight were dealt with calmly.

No one could get in a real blow and the Champion Racing squad eventually came home third, five laps behind the winners.

Emmanuelle Pirro, who was partnered by Swede Stefan Johansson and Finn JJ Lehto in the Champion Racing line-up, had also been chasing a record fourth straight win.

But it was not to be for the Italian or Germany’s Frank Biela, who had been part of the successful driver line-up with Kristensen and Pirro for the previous three years. Driving for Audi UK, Biela paid for a costly driver error when he missed a pit-lane call from his crew two hours into the race while in fifth and ran out of fuel.

He owned up to a driving gaffe after rolling to a premature halt. “I’m just so upset for the team,” said Biela, whose co-drivers Mika Salo and Perry McCarthy did not even get to take to the track.

The other Audi entered in the race by Audi Sport Japan came home fourth in the hands of Seiji Ara, of Japan, German Marco Werner and Dane Jan Magnussen. They were seven laps behind.