Endurance
Bentley launches tribute series to its victory at the 24 2003 Hours of Le Mans
The Bentley Continental Le Mans Collection and the Bentley Speed 9 from the 24 2003 Hours of Le Mans. © Bentley
At Bentley, we love motorsport and above all the heritage of competition. The British manufacturer has launched production of a limited series of Bentley Continental GT Coupé and Continental GTC in homage to the 24 Hours of Le Mans 2003.
It will indeed be 20 years since Bentley won the La Sarthe event for the sixth and last time, with the Speed 8 driven by Guy Smith, Tom Kristensen and Rinaldo Capello. It was even a double as Johnny Herbert, Mark Blundell and David Brabham finished in second place with the other green prototype.
This limited series is distinguished by subtle reminders of this victory. Inside, all models in the Le Mans Collection are equipped with the Bentley three-position rotating display, offering the choice between touchscreen, dual veneer or analogue dials, but with a twist: instead of the Standard center dial is a display case displaying a valve from the 8-liter twin-turbo V4,0 engine of the Le Mans-winning Bentley Speed 8 in 2003. The engine was removed after the race and preserved, and now 24 of the engine's 32 valves have been cut in half to create 48 artifacts for this exclusive collection of ultimate Grand Touring cars. And that’s class!
It won't make the Bentley any faster but it's nice. © Bentley
In another nice touch, the standard 12-hour analog clock is replaced by a digital clock with a bespoke dial – a 24-hour dial, naturally.
Mulliner, the personal ordering division of Bentley, was inspired by the dark green Speed 8 racing cars that swept everything in their path at Le Mans in 2003. From the verdant green exterior to the gleam of the Speed 8 engine displayed on the dashboard, the collection Le Mans is a heartfelt tribute to the long and glorious shared history between Bentley and the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Under the front hood, we find a large W12 TSI developing 650 horsepower. Enough to guarantee a maximum speed of 335 km/h and a 0 to 100 reached in just 3″6! No sales price has been announced by the English manufacturer.
Medhi Casaurang
Passionate about the history of motorsport across all disciplines, I learned to read thanks to AUTOhebdo. At least that's what my parents tell everyone when they see my name inside!
Read also
Auto News
Disappearance of Marcello Gandini, father of the Lamborghini Miura and the Lancia Stratos
0
Comments
*The space reserved for logged in users. Please connect to be able to respond or post a comment!
0 Comment (s)
To write a comment
0 View comments)