2003 Bentley Speed 8 - ‘Bentley’ as a marque is synonymous with the 24 Heures du Mans having dominated the race in the 1920s with five wins, before its acquisition by Rolls-Royce and the absence of a works racing presence for the next 70 years. In 1998 the marque was purchased by Volkswagen Audi Group and, with a view to reinvigorating its image, in 2000 Bentley announced a three year programme to win again at Le Mans. Audi already had a strong presence in sports car racing which would help and complicate Bentley’s attempt, though Audi’s immediate success was in a different class to the LMGTP class Bentley was targeted. The car was to be designed in the UK by Racing Technology Norfolk (RTN), who had been involved with Audi’s race programme, but contrary to rumour both the initial prototype and final cars were not “re-skinned” Audi’s but totally new designs. They did share the Audi’s twin-turbo 4-litre V8 engine, giving the car a theoretical 615bhp to power just under 1,000kg of weight. Peter Elleray was the lead designer of the cars. Bentleys raced at both the 2001 and 2002 Le Mans with top 4 placings and wins in class, but overall success eluded them. The 2003 car pictured here was effectively a totally new car and this is evident when one looks at it in detail. Many modern race cars designed purely for racing inevitably end up very functional looking at the expense of pure beauty - the Speed 8 is an exception to this. The key to winning at Le Mans is a design which captures the combination of sufficient downforce for cornering with a very high top speed for the long Mulsanne straight; 215mph in the Bentley’s case. Downforce comes from the wing starting at the very front line of the car, but this then flows back into the bubbled cockpit of what is effectively an enclosed ‘open wheel’ racer, with air flow channelled down the sides. The rear then flattens down in to a highly aerodynamic, low upturned tail over the engine, but with a gigantic rear wing and diffuser, like the front giving the required downforce to keep the car on the track. For 2003 Derek Bell, who had been with the project from the start, oversaw Bentley’s third attempt with the Speed 8. The 2003 car was finally a winner, taking first and second both overall and in class, with the No.7 car leading the No.8 three laps ahead of the next finisher. Apart from Elleray’s design of the car, the 2003 success was helped by Audi concentrating its resources that year on Bentley’s bid to win, including the addition of drivers Rinaldo Capello and Tom Kristensen to the team. They were joined in the winning car by the British driver Guy Smith who in an interview with Motorsport magazine said of the car “From the very first test it was obvious to me that the Speed 8 was a different animal – it felt like a car you could jump in and drive to the shops. It was so easy to drive, the engine now so smooth and progressive. Once we got out on the track it was instantly quick, easily faster than the 2001 car, and more importantly it was consistent and reliable.” Sadly Bentley immediately stopped racing the Speed 8 after its win at the 2003 Le Mans, so the car never developed the race record it might have had otherwise. For fans, the cars still appear at motorsports events periodically, still sporting the battle scars of their 2003 victory and they are certainly worth seeing and hearing ‘in the flesh’. The winning cars are pictured here at the Goodwood Festival of Speed and Members Meetings over various years.
