Yes, you read it correctly: this Bentley doesn't have its typical Audi turbocharged V8 but a naturally-aspirated 3.5-liter Cosworth DFR. And this has nothing to do with possible current management costs but with the history of this particular chassis. In fact what you see is the very first chassis (RTN001/01) ever built for Bentley's planned three-year campaign in the closed-cockpit LMGTP class.

When Bentley was purchased by Volkswagen in 1998 new funds became available and the brand began to have a great interest in motorsport again, especially with the desire to obtain their sixth 24 Hours of Le Mans win after the early five successes back in 1920s. The project wasn't so difficult to start as the Volkswagen Group was already involved in endurace racing with Audi and their R8. Furthermore, in order not to annoy each other, the regulations of those years allowed two different top classes which could both fight for the overall victory: LMP900 for open-cockpit prototypes and LMGTP for closed-cockpit ones.

Bentley relied on Racing Technology Norfolk (RTN) for the whole design, development and manufacturing of the new car, which was called EXP Speed 8, a way to remark its experimental status and the use of a eight cylinder engine, as per traditional Bentley nomenclature. The engine would have been the only point in common between the two sister cars, R8 and Speed 8, but when the first 'EXP' was build and ready, its engine was not. To have waited until Audi provided the required motors would have meant delaying the programme another year.

So, and in complete secrecy, the Bentley went through almost its entire development and validation programme powered by a DFR. And it actually did the team a massive favour. Not only did it match the 600bhp expected from the Audi engine, like all DFVs it was not exactly the smoothest running engine. In fact it vibrated so much the car had to be phenomenally well built not to be shaken to pieces by it. The result was a car that, once teething troubles were overcome, would run with enviable reliability throughout its career.

RTN001/01 was never raced but it was used a lot in development tests between 2000 and 2001, when the actual racing career of the Speed 8 started. Almost 24 years after it last turned a wheel on a race track, it has been rebuilt and recreated in an exact 'period correct' specification by the guys of Progressive Motorsport.

Watch it now in action fielded in its very first race, the first round of the 2024 Endurance Racing Legends series, at Mugello Circuit during the recent Mugello Classic weekend by @peterautoracing!

0:00 Walkaround & Warm Up
1:45 Pit Exit
2:27 In Action On Track

#Bentley #BentleyEXPSpeed8 #BentleySpeed8
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- Event: Mugello Classic 2024
- Where: Mugello Circuit, Italy

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