Bentley Speed 8

Lore & Background

All design, development and manufacturing for the Bentley was by Racing Technology Norfolk (RTN), located in Norfolk, United Kingdom, formerly TOM'S GB. The chief designer was Peter Elleray. Operations for the car were handled by veteran endurance racing driver Richard Lloyd's Audi Sport UK, operating under the title of Team Bentley. The engine, a 4.0 litre V8 with Honeywell Turbo Technologies turbocharger, was used from the car's debut in 2001. The six-speed gearbox was a custom unit developed by Xtrac. Bentley chose to run on Dunlop tyres instead of the Michelins used by Audi. Following its initial year of competition, the engine was further developed to better suit the EXP Speed 8, still at 4.0 litres, producing approximately 600 hp. This led to Bentley redesigning the car for 2003, leading to the change of name to simply Speed 8. The flat front end was replaced with a raised crash box for a nose, while deep valleys ran between the nose and fenders, requiring large horizontal bodywork between the nose and fenders to shroud the suspension arms. The cockpit was tapered for better airflow to the rear wing. Bentley switched to Michelin tyres for their 2003 campaign.

In Their Own Story

The dawn light of June 2003 broke over the Circuit de la Sarthe, illuminating dust and tire rubber on the Mulsanne Straight. Inside the cockpit, Rinaldo Capello felt the familiar vibration of the BMW V8 through the steering wheel. The car was old now by racing standards, battered by hours of high-speed stress, yet it hummed with a steady rhythm that newer rivals lacked. As he crossed the finish line for the final time, the silver livery gleamed against the grey sky, a silent testament to endurance over raw power.

Reader's Guide

In 2001 Bentley returned to the 24 Hours of Le Mans after a gap of 68 years with the EXP Speed 8 in the closed-cockpit LMGTP class. Two cars were entered; one earned third place behind a pair of Audi R8s, the other retired due to a fire. In 2002, using the larger engine, a lone entry managed fourth place, again behind only R8s. For 2003, the evolved Speed 8 entered the 12 Hours of Sebring, taking third and fourth places behind a factory and a privateer R8. At Le Mans with assistance from Joest Racing, a Bentley started from pole position. With no works Audi team participating, the two cars led nearly the entire event. After 377 laps, the #7 Bentley took the chequered flag, followed by the sister car two laps behind. This gave the Volkswagen Group their fourth straight victory at Le Mans, split between Audi and Bentley brands. It was the last win at Le Mans for a closed cockpit car until Peugeot's win in 2009.

Did You Know?

• The Bentley Speed 8's first overall victory at Le Mans was in 2003, not 2001.
• The engine was a 4.0-liter Bentley-branded V8 based on the Audi R8's architecture, not a BMW unit.
• Bentley's last overall win before 2003 was in 1930, not the 1930s Blower era.
• The 2003 Speed 8 was awarded Autosport's Racing Car of the Year in 2003.