It can sometimes be hard to recall Bentley's 21st century Le Mans success, such has been the Audi dominance and also the glory days of Bentley sportscars - you think Bentley and Le Mans, you think Woolf Barnato and that era. Well, we do.
The Speed 8 of 2003 absolutely deserves its fame though, taking Rinaldo Capello, Tome Kristensen and Guy Smith to victory at Le Mans 15 years ago. More than that it was a 1-2 year for Bentley, the #8 car of Mark Blundell, David Brabham and Johnny Herbert following home a couple of laps behind. More than seven decades after the last Bentley Le mans win, and the win was accompanied by a second place as well - some result. Don't forget, either, that Bentley ranks as one of just four manufacturers - along with Peugeot, Audi and Porsche - to have won Le Mans in the 18 years of this century. For some context there were six in the final decade of the 20th century.
To mark a decade and a half of a legendary Le Mans racer, here's the drive video Autocar produced a few years back to remind us what a special Bentley this is. Steve Sutcliffe is on presenting duties with his own indomitable style, the sun is shining at Anglesey and the Bentley... frankly the Bentley looks like jolly hard work, tyres past their best and steering heavy. It also looks ruddy sensational though, so that's OK.
Therefore, if by chance the Bentley Speed 8 had slipped your mind, we can think of no better way to jog the memory with this vid. And don't forget, Le Mans 2018 is now less than three weeks away...
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