Speed 8 Socks

After having dominated Le Mans in the 1920s, Bentley made a brief but mighty comeback in 2003. In the wake of VW's takeover, the 218mph Speed 8 assault at La Sarthe resulted in an emphatic 1-2 win. And then, the giant returned to its beauty sleep ???? 

Bentley dominated the Le Mans 24 Hour race in the 1920s, taking five victories between 1924 and 1930. Then, after a seven-decade absence from the famous French endurance race, Bentley returned in the early 21st century and accomplished an overall Le Mans victory in 2003 with the Speed 8.

Bentley had been taken over by the Volkswagen Group in 1998, and the new owner was keen to re-establish the brand's sporting credentials. They briefly switched the Le Mans effort from Audi to Bentley, and Speed 8 coupés in British racing green were designed and produced at the team's UK base in Crewe, with technical support plus 600bhp twin-turbo V8 engines from habitual Le Mans-winner Audi. Tom Kristensen, Rinaldo Capello and Guy Smith pedalled the Bentley Speed 8 a re-liveried version of the previously dominant Audi R8) to victory in a team managed by British Le Mans legend Derek Bell, ticked all the boxes needed to reestablish Bentley as a Le Mans-winning brand. Following the triumph, Volkswagen’s Le Mans efforts switched back to Audi.