Bentley Speed 8 Inaugurates Year-Long Celebration Of Le Mans Centenary

Bentley started a year of celebration of the 24 Hours of Le Mans centenary with a demonstration run of the 2003-race-winning #7 Speed 8 at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in California. 

Simultaneously opening Bentley’s Monterey Car Week program, the Speed 8 ran at speed in the U.S for the first time since the 2003 12 Hours of Sebring, where it set the fastest lap to finish third.

Joining the Speed 8 before it took to the track, a cavalcade of more than 30 modern Bentleys arrived at Laguna Seca having driven up from Los Angeles. 

Cruising the beautiful Pacific Coast Highway route over two days in a range of cars from a beautiful Azure convertible to examples of every car in Bentley’s current model range.

Upon arrival, the cavalcade of Bentleys completed a parade lap of Laguna Seca, led by the first car in Bentley Mulliner’s Blower Continuation Series, the Blower Car Zero.

The Blower was then joined on-track by the Speed 8, for a dynamic meeting of two cars representing the long-standing connection between Bentley Motors and the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Outstandingly, the Speed 8 then showed its still-extraordinary performance, completing several laps of Laguna Seca at race pace.

Bentley - The 24 Hours Of Le Mans

Bentley has been racing since 1919, the year of the company’s inception, and has a history with Le Mans that’s as old as the race itself.

W.O. Bentley was present at the race’s first running in 1923, as was a lone Bentley 3-litre, privately entered and driven by Captain John Duff and Frank Clement.

It was the only British car in the 20-strong field, but finished fourth and set the lap record, at an average speed of nearly 70 mph (113 km/h).

In the following year, Bentley returned with factory-supported cars and won, marking the beginning of a glorious decade. 

One in which W.O. and his drivers would come to dominate Le Mans, winning five times between 1924 and 1930.

Specifically, in 1924 with the upgraded 1993, 3-litre Bentley, driven by John Duff and Frank Clement, and in 1927 with another 3-litre, driven by Dudley Benjafield and Sammy Davis.

Next, was in 1928 with a more powerful 4½-litre Bentley, that was driven by Woolf Barnato and Bernard Rubin.

Then, in 1929 with a Speed Six, driven by Woolf Barnato and Sir Henry “Tim” Birkin, with Bentley taking the top four finishing positions.

Last but not least, in 1930 again with another Speed Six, driven by Woolf Barnato and Glen Kidston to finish second.

Fast forward, Bentley graced the Le Mans again with a three-year race programme in 2001, with the EXP Speed 8 prototype. 

Said car stunned the competition by finishing on the podium in its debut year, driven by Andy Wallace, Butch Leitzinger and Eric van de Poele. The car just missed out in 2002, finishing fourth. 

For 2003, the car was completely redesigned, and renamed simply as the Bentley Speed 8. Two cars entered Le Mans that year and dominated. 

Namely, the #7 car, driven by Guy Smith, Tom Kristensen and Rinaldo Capello started from pole position and went on to win the race.

Leading two laps ahead of the #8 Speed 8 piloted by Mark Blundell, David Brabham and Johnny Herbert, which finished second.

All in all, the 2003 victory was Bentley’s sixth, a tally that means Bentley is still the fifth most successful manufacturer at the world’s most demanding endurance race.