The Bentley Le Mans Collection: A High-Octane Homage

The latest Bentley offering honours a storied racing heritage that binds Bentley and the Le Mans 24 Hours race together as part of race legend. Introducing the Bentley Le Mans Collection – a fleet of limited-edition Continental GTs and GTCs that are as sublime as they are exclusive.

Celebrating both the 20th anniversary of Bentley’s sixth triumph at the world’s most gruelling endurance race and the centenary of the Le Mans event itself, this collection is a rare slice of history.

Only 48 of these automotive masterpieces will grace our roads (or more likely, private collections), each a shrine to Bentley’s victorious Speed 8 #7 from the 2003 race. The exterior wears a coat of Verdant green, a hue that screams ‘racing pedigree’ of course.

The Moonbeam racing stripe that cuts across the bonnet and roof (of the Coupe) is a stylish nod to the iconic livery of the Speed 8. Meanwhile, the Blackline specification and carbon-fibre body components, finished in black with a subtle Moonbeam pinstripe, add an extra layer of oomph to the aesthetic.

Under the bonnet, the Le Mans Collection doesn’t disappoint. It’s powered by Bentley’s iconic 6.0-litre twin-turbo W12 engine, which, as you petrolheads will know, is the most successful 12-cylinder engine of the modern era. With 650 bhp and a staggering 664 lb.ft of torque, it packs more punch than a Mayweather uppercut.

Yet, the piece de resistance is the Bentley Rotating Display. This high-tech marvel, in this edition, houses an actual valve from the engine of the 2003 Le Mans-winning Bentley Speed 8. That’s right – you’ll be driving around with a slice of motorsport history right in your dashboard.

Inside, the interiors are more luxurious than a cruise in the Mediterranean. A bespoke 2003 wreath welcome lamp ushers you into a cockpit adorned with Beluga hide. The seats are swathed in performance-bred Dynamica fabric, and there’s a striking contrast between the monochrome colour scheme and the Hotspur seat stitching and seatbelts.

But the tributes don’t stop there. The interiors feature a digital 24-hour clock (naturally), the Speed 8 sill plates, and a six-wreath emblem inlaid into high-gloss carbon fibre – one for each of Bentley’s Le Mans victories.

And for the tech-lovers, the Le Mans Collection doesn’t skimp on the bells and whistles. Bentley Dynamic Ride, active air suspension, an Electronic Limited Slip Differential, and All Wheel Steering are just some of the goodies that turn this car from a looker into a proper driver’s car.

Bentley’s ties with Le Mans go back to the very beginning, when private entrant John Duff piloted a Bentley 3 Litre to a fourth-place finish and the fastest lap in the inaugural race in 1923. Fast forward to 2003, and Bentley’s Speed 8s bagged a 1-2 finish, with the #7 car of Guy Smith, Tom Kristensen, and Rinaldo Capello leading the charge.

In a world obsessed with downsizing engines and electrification, the Le Mans Collection is a defiant roar from Bentley. It’s a celebration of their past, a nod to the present, and a bold statement of intent for the future. It’s a proclamation that there’s still a place for big, burly, 12-cylinder engines in this day and age.