last update: October 10, currently 7 models in this collection
The luxury brand Bentley was famous for its racing history and Le Mans wins in the 1920’s with their Speed 7’s, but in 1931 Bentley came under the ownership of Rolls Royce and racing was over. The Volkswagen Group bought Bentley in 1998 and with technical support of Audi, the Bentleys returned to Le Mans.
Speed 8
In 1999 the GT1 category seized to exist and was replaced by LM GTP. Manufacturers didn’t need to build a road going version for homologation. LM GTP’s had slightly different regulations than LMP 900 such as a bit more engine power due to larger restrictors but less wider tires. Audi experimented with both concepts in Le Mans 1999, and the Joest managed LMP 900 Audi R8R (R for Roadster) won over the RTN managed LM GTP Audi R8C (Coupé). So Audi decided for the LMP1 and Joest and this was the start of a whole new era.
2001 Le Mans 24h, Bentley Speed 8. Audi wanted to revive the Bentley brand by racing it at Le Mans, but it wasn’t supposed to threaten Audi’s Le Mans victories. So the Audi R8C was used as inspiration to build the beautiful Bentley Speed 8 which used the same Audi powerplant. The Bentley’s made a fine debut in the wettest Le Mans in years; the #7 had to retire with a broken gearbox (also the only weak point of the Audi’s), but the #8 car finished 3rd, 14 laps behind the two Joest Audi’s.
#7 Martin Brundle (GB) / Guy Smith (
GB) / Stéphane Ortelli (F) – DNF
#8 Andy Wallace (GB) / Butch Leizinger (
USA) / Eric van de Poele (B) – 3rd
Bentley Speed 8 – 3.6 liter Audi V8 90º twin turbo, approx. 640 hp. Michelin tires. Weight 900 kg. Carbon fibre monocoque, chassisnrs. RTN #002/4 & #002/3
- IXO Modern Le Mans & GT cars LMM029 & LMM030 (diecast)
- 1999 Audi R8C MINICHAMPS MC 430 990910 (diecast)
this model has been posted before in #016 Audi R8
2002 Le Mans 24h, Bentley Speed 8. In 2002 Bentley participated with only one Speed 8. It had to let the Audi’s go in front as Joest took a convincing 1-2-3 finish. The Bentley finished 4th, 10 laps behind the 3rd Audi so it already got closer.
#8 Andy Wallace (GB) / Butch Leizinger (
USA) / Eric van de Poele (B) – 4th
Bentley Speed 8 – 3.6 liter Audi V8 90º twin turbo, approx. 640 hp. Michelin tires. Weight 900 kg. Carbon fibre monocoque, chassisnr. RTN #002/6
- MINICHAMPS MC 436 021308 in a ‘limited edition’ presentation box (diecast)
2003 Sebring 12h, Bentley Speed 8. A new version of the Speed 8 was presented in 2003 with a narrower cockpit and improved aerodynamics. Its debut came at Sebring where the British cars finished 3rd and 4th behind the Joest Audi’s. In the American Le Mans Series no GTP rules were in place, so the Bentleys were entered in LMP900.
#8 Sebring Johnny Herbert (GB) / David Brabham (AUS) / Mark Blundell (GB) – 3rd
Bentley Speed 8 – 4.0 liter Audi V8 90º twin turbo, approx. 650 hp. Michelin tires. Weight 900 kg. Carbon fibre monocoque, chassisnr. RTN #004/5
- MINICHAMPS MC430 031398 (diecast)
2003 Le Mans 24h, Bentley Speed 8. Joest Audi didn’t participate at Le Mans, the star drivers such as Tom Kristensen and Rinaldo Capello were available for Bentley. Also, the privateer teams that raced Audi R8 showed somewhat less pace than in previous years, probably Michelin played a role in this. The way was clear for Bentley to win Le Mans and they did with a double podium and even completed 2 laps more than the winning Audi in the previous year. Mission accomplished and Bentley disappeared again from the circuits.
#7 Le Mans Tom Kristensen (DK) / Rinaldo Capello (I) / Guy Smith (GB) – 1st
Bentley Speed 8 – 4.0 liter Audi V8 90º twin turbo, approx. 650 hp. Michelin tires. Weight 900 kg. Carbon fibre monocoque, chassisnr. RTN #004/3
- MINICHAMPS MC430 031307 (diecast)
Continental GT3
2013 Spa-Francorchamps 24h, Bentley Continental GT#. The entry list of the Blancpain Series already was a colorful collection of exclusive cars, but in 2014 a very special one joined; the Bentley Continental GT3. Malcolm Wilson’s M-Sport did a tremendous job to build a competitive racing car, the GT3 is 1.000 kg / 2,200 lbs lighter than the road going version. 2014 Was a learning year for the British but they already did very well, both cars finished the 24 hour race.
#7 Guy Smith (GB) / Andrew Meyrick (
GB) / Stephen Kane (GB) – 13th
Bentley Continental GT3 – 4.0 liter Audi V8 90º twin turbo, approx. 650 hp. Pirelli tires. Weight 1300 kg. Steel monocoque, chassisnr. #unknown
- TRUE SCALE MINIATURES 154316 (resin)
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