BENTLEY SPEED 8
#7 WINNER LE MANS 2003
Bentley Speed 8, The impressive car has the admiration of winning the 2003 24 Hours in Le Mans in governing fashion. It's performed spectacularly well of car. Bentley Speed 8 it's still features enclosed bodywork meaning it remained in a class of its own and the engine retained its basic architecture, 4-litre capacity, direct fuel injection and twin turbochargers
For 2003, Bentley decided that their new evolved Speed 8 would need competitive testing in order to prepare for an overall win at Le Mans. The pair of new cars were therefore entered in the American Le Mans Series 12 Hours of Sebring. Despite having to start at the back of the field due to a rules infraction in qualifying, the two cars quickly made their way through the field. The Bentleys were able to take third and fourth places, behind the factory and a privateer R8.
Returning to Le Mans with assistance from Joest Racing, a Bentley started from pole position. With no works Audi team participating, the two cars were able to lead nearly the entire event, with the #7 entry ahead of the #8, which had some electrical problems during the race. After 377 laps, the #7 Bentley successfully took the chequered flag, followed by the sister car two laps behind. This helped give the Volkswagen Group their fourth straight victory at Le Mans, split between the Audi and Bentley brands.
Following Le Mans the Bentley program ended, and the Speed 8s were never raced again. Shortly after the 2001 Le Mans race, chassis 2/3 was sold to a Japanese collector. It was subsequently sold to an American collector where it remains today (as of 2009). It remains the sole car outside Bentley ownership.
Bentley Speed 8, The impressive car has the admiration of winning the 2003 24 Hours in Le Mans in governing fashion. It's performed spectacularly well of car. Bentley Speed 8 it's still features enclosed bodywork meaning it remained in a class of its own and the engine retained its basic architecture, 4-litre capacity, direct fuel injection and twin turbochargers
For 2003, Bentley decided that their new evolved Speed 8 would need competitive testing in order to prepare for an overall win at Le Mans. The pair of new cars were therefore entered in the American Le Mans Series 12 Hours of Sebring. Despite having to start at the back of the field due to a rules infraction in qualifying, the two cars quickly made their way through the field. The Bentleys were able to take third and fourth places, behind the factory and a privateer R8.
Returning to Le Mans with assistance from Joest Racing, a Bentley started from pole position. With no works Audi team participating, the two cars were able to lead nearly the entire event, with the #7 entry ahead of the #8, which had some electrical problems during the race. After 377 laps, the #7 Bentley successfully took the chequered flag, followed by the sister car two laps behind. This helped give the Volkswagen Group their fourth straight victory at Le Mans, split between the Audi and Bentley brands.
Following Le Mans the Bentley program ended, and the Speed 8s were never raced again. Shortly after the 2001 Le Mans race, chassis 2/3 was sold to a Japanese collector. It was subsequently sold to an American collector where it remains today (as of 2009). It remains the sole car outside Bentley ownership.