Celebrating two anniversaries of the legendary race.
Bentley has a storied history when it comes to racing. The 20th century saw the British automaker achieve numerous racing victories and build some iconic models that have helped make the brand what it is today. Bentley is proud of its heritage and rightfully so; its automobiles are classics that showcase craftsmanship, style, and performance.
Ninety years ago, a Bentley Sport 3-Litre won the 24 Hours of Le Mans, piloted by Frenchman André Lagache and René Léonard, giving the only British marquee to participate in the race the checkered flag. Eighty years later, in 2003, Bentley returned to Le Mans with a Speed 8 driven by Tom Kristensen, Rinaldo Capello, and Guy Smith, and achieved another overall victory. This year marks the 90th and 10th anniversaries of both victories and part of the celebration includes the new Le Mans Limited Edition Bentley Mulsanne that brings exclusive sporting and historic features to the ultra-luxury sedan.
At the 2013 Pebble Beach Concours D’Elegance, Bentley will unveil their new Mulsanne Le Mans Edition that sits alongside the Continental Le Mans Edition models.
“2013 is the 90th Anniversary of the first Le Mans 24 Hours race, in which Bentley was the only British marquee to participate, and also the 10th Anniversary of the most recent win for the Speed 8 in 2003,” said Christophe Georges, COO of Bentley Motors America. “Pebble Beach, for us, is the ideal place to debut and display our Le Mans Limited Edition Mulsanne model and to showcase our flagship vehicle in its Limited Edition livery to a very knowledgeable audience of automotive enthusiasts and Bentley owners from around the world.”
Each Bentley Mulsanne Le Mans Edition is inspired by one driver from the automaker’s six victories at the legendary endurance race and proudly displays a number of exclusive features. The interior wears new diamond-quilted hide seat covering and door panels along with drilled alloy foot pedals. The suspension and steering were fine-tuned for sport while the tailpipes now feature a ‘Quad’ effect finish. Two-piece dark-tinted alloy wheels finish the specification.
The new Bentley Mulsanne Le Mans Edition will be shown at the 2013 Pebble Beach Concours D’Elegance alongside the Continental Le Mans Edition, race-winning 2003 Bentley Speed 8 with driver Guy Smith, and other models. The new Continental GT3 will be presented at the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion at Laguna Seca Raceway from Friday August 16th to Sunday the 18th.
In a special example of extraordinary timing, a 1931 Bentley 4½ Litre Supercharged Le Mans will be put on the auction block at Pebble Beach. The car is only one-of-three examples of the Original Le Mans Specification production Supercharged models and be sold while Bentley is celebrating its anniversaries of two memorable Le Mans victories.
Source: Bentley
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