Bentley Speed 8

All design, development and manufacturing for the Bentley was done by the English outfit, Racing Technology Norfolk (RTN), located in Norfolk, United Kingdom. Chief designer was Peter Elleray. Operations for the car were handled by Audi Sport UK, operating under the title of Team Bentley.

The engine from the Audi R8, a 3.6 litre V8 with (Honeywell Turbo Technologies) turbocharger,[1] was used as the initial powerplant in 2001. The six-speed gearbox was also not the typical Ricardo unit from the R8, but instead a custom unit developed by Xtrac. Bentley also chose to run on Dunlop tyres instead of the Michelins used by Audi.

Bentley EXP Speed 8 at Coventry Motor Museum

Following its initial year of competition, the Audi-sourced V8 was modified to better suit the EXP Speed 8. This saw the engine expanded to 4.0 litres, producing approximately 600 hp. This would ultimately lead 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. This required the addition of large horizontal bodywork between the nose and fenders to shroud the suspension arms of the Speed 8. The cockpit would also be tapered to allow for better airflow to the rear wing. Bentley also decided to switch to Michelin tyres for their 2003 campaign.

In 2001 Bentley returned to the famous 24 Hours of Le Mans race, after a gap of 68 years, for a planned three-year campaign with the EXP Speed 8 in the closed-cockpit LMGTP class. During its run, the Bentleys were the only cars to run in the LMGTP class. Two cars were entered, with one earning third place behind a pair of Audi R8s. The other car unfortunately retired after a strong run in the rain due to a fire which caused the driver to abandon the car. Bentley returned in 2002, using their new larger engine, now running a lone entry as a testbed for the evolved Speed 8 in 2003. The car managed fourth place, once again behind only R8s.

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. It was the last win at Le Mans for a closed cockpit car until Peugeot's win in 2009.

Following Le Mans the Bentley program ended, chassis no. 002-3 was last raced at Road America in 2007 prior to the 2012 RM Monterey auction.[2]

A 2003 Bentley Speed 8 competed in 2013 Goodwood Festival of Speed.[3]

A 2001 Bentley Speed 8 chassis no. 002-3 was sold to a Japanese collector, then it was subsequently sold to an American collector where it remains today (as of 2009), and was sold in 2012 RM Monterey auction for US$2,530,000.[4] It remains the sole car outside Bentley ownership.

24 Hours of Le Mans

Year	Entrant	#	Drivers	Class	Laps	Pos.	Class Pos.
2001	Team Bentley	7	Martin Brundle Stéphane Ortelli Guy Smith	LMGTP	56	Ret	Ret
		8	Andy Wallace Butch Leitzinger Eric van de Poele	LMGTP	306	3rd	1st
2002	Team Bentley	8	Andy Wallace Eric van de Poele Butch Leitzinger	LMGTP	362	4th	1st
2003	Team Bentley	7	Rinaldo Capello Tom Kristensen Guy Smith	LMGTP	377	1st	1st
		8	Mark Blundell David Brabham Johnny Herbert	LMGTP	375	2nd	2nd

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bentley Speed 8.

• Mulsanne's Corner - Interview with Bentley designer Peter Elleray
• Bentley Speed 8 - 360-view of the racing car in 3D