Le Mans Team Profile

Bentley Motors.

Six overall wins at Le Mans, the first in 1924 and the last in 2003.

Four came in consecutive years at the end of the 1920s, when the Bentley Boys made the race their own. The sixth came seventy-three years after the fifth.

Company founded
1919, by W. O. Bentley
First win
1924
Four in a row
1927 to 1930
Return and win
2003, with the Speed 8
Le Mans wins
6
Read the full history
6
Le Mans Wins
1924, 1927—1930, 2003
4
Consecutive Wins
1927 to 1930
1919
Company Founded
W. O. Bentley
2003
The Return
Speed 8, seventy-three years on
Le Mans wins
1924 1927 1928 1929 1930 2003
Overview

What Is Bentley at Le Mans?

Bentley won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in the second year the race was run, in 1924, and then four times consecutively from 1927 to 1930. The company had been founded in 1919 by W. O. Bentley, and the drivers who won those races — Woolf Barnato above all, a winner in 1928, 1929 and 1930 — became known as the Bentley Boys.

The 1924 win was a private entry, by Duff and Aldington. The four from 1927 came from Bentley Motors Limited itself, with the 3 Litre, the 4½ Litre and then the Speed Six.

Nothing followed for seventy-three years. In 2003 Bentley returned with the Speed 8, entered as Team Bentley, and won at the second attempt with Rinaldo Capello, Tom Kristensen and Guy Smith. The company has not raced at Le Mans since.

Era 01 · 1923—1930

The Bentley Boys

Bentley won Le Mans in 1924, in only the second running of the race, with a privately entered 3 Litre. Then came the works cars and four consecutive victories from 1927 to 1930, through the 3 Litre, the 4½ Litre and the Speed Six.

Woolf Barnato won three of them, in 1928, 1929 and 1930, and never lost a Le Mans he started.

Bentley Motors historic 1929 4½ Litre racing car in British Racing Green competing at the Le Mans 24 Hours. Bentley Speed Six · the fourth in a row
Era 02 · 1931—2000

Seventy Years Away

Bentley stopped racing after 1930. The company changed hands more than once and spent most of the century building road cars rather than contesting the race it had once owned.

The pre-war wins stayed in the record book, and in the memory, which is why the green cars still sell.

Bentley Motors classic Speed Six model displayed at a heritage motorsport event during the brand's racing hiatus. The last win for seventy-three years
Era 03 · 2001—2003

The Speed 8

Bentley came back in 2001 under Volkswagen ownership and, in 2003, entered two Speed 8s as Team Bentley. Rinaldo Capello, Tom Kristensen and Guy Smith won.

The programme closed immediately afterwards. Bentley has not returned to Le Mans since.

Bentley Motors modern 2003 Speed 8 Le Mans prototype race car engineered for the legendary endurance championship. Bentley Speed 8 · the sixth win
Team Timeline

Bentley at Le Mans

1919

Bentley Motors Founded

W. O. Bentley establishes the company.

1924

First Le Mans Win

A privately entered Bentley 3 Litre wins the second running of the race.

1927

Works Win

Bentley Motors Limited wins with the 3 Litre Speed.

1928

Barnato's First

Woolf Barnato wins with the 4½ Litre.

1929

The Speed Six

Barnato wins again, this time in the Speed Six.

1930

Fourth in a Row

A final pre-war victory for Barnato and the Speed Six.

1931

Racing Stops

Bentley withdraws from motor racing.

2001

The Return

Bentley enters Le Mans again with the EXP Speed 8.

2003

Sixth Win

Team Bentley wins with the Speed 8, seventy-three years after the fifth.

By the Numbers

Le Mans Wins

Every overall win at the 24 Hours of Le Mans by a Bentley, the car, the winning crew, and whether the car was entered by Bentley itself.
Year,Car,Winning Drivers,Works Entry Car Drivers' champion Double
1924 Bentley 3 Litre Sport Duff & Aldington entry Private entry
1927 Bentley 3 Litre Speed Dudley Benjafield · Sammy Davis Double
1928 Bentley 4½ Litre Woolf Barnato · Bernard Rubin Double
1929 Bentley Speed Six Woolf Barnato · Henry Birkin Double
1930 Bentley Speed Six Woolf Barnato · Glen Kidston Double
2003 Bentley Speed 8 Rinaldo Capello · Tom Kristensen · Guy Smith Double

The 1924 winner was entered privately, by Duff and Aldington, rather than by Bentley Motors Limited; it counts for the marque and is listed here with the works flag off. The four wins from 1927 to 1930 were works entries, and 2003 was entered as Team Bentley. Entrant names read from the winners table. Figures verified 14 August 2026.

Sources

  1. List of 24 Hours of Le Mans winners · Wikipedia — winning entrants, crews and cars read from the entrant column
  2. Bentley Speed 8 · Wikipedia — the 2003 car, entrant and drivers
  3. Photo — Bentley 4½ Litre · MrWalkr via Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 · cropped and resized
  4. Photo — Bentley Speed Six Le Mans · Calreyn88 via Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 · cropped and resized
  5. Photo — Bentley Speed 8 · MrWalkr via Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 · cropped and resized
  6. Photo — Bentley 4½ Litre Le Mans · MrWalkr via Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 · cropped and resized
  7. Photo — Bentley Speed Six · Alexander Migl via Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 · cropped and resized
  8. Photo — Bentley Speed 8 (2003) · David Merrett from Daventry, England via Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0 · cropped and resized
Machinery

Three Cars That Made Bentley

1927—28 1928 Bentley 4½ Litre Le Mans car in British racing green

Bentley 4½ Litre

The car of the second and third wins, and the one most people picture when they picture a Bentley Boy.

1929—30 1930 Bentley Speed Six Le Mans car in British racing green

Bentley Speed Six

Two consecutive victories for Woolf Barnato, and the most successful racing Bentley of the pre-war era.

2001—03 2003 Bentley Speed 8 Le Mans prototype, side view

Bentley Speed 8

The modern prototype that won in 2003 — Bentley's only win in seventy-three years, and its last.

Le Mans Winners
WB
Woolf Barnato
1928, 1929, 1930
HB
Henry Birkin
1929
SD
Sammy Davis
1927
TK
Tom Kristensen
2003
RC
Rinaldo Capello
2003
GS
Guy Smith
2003
Frequently Asked

Frequently Asked Questions

How many times has Bentley won Le Mans?
Six — 1924, 1927, 1928, 1929, 1930 and 2003.
Who were the Bentley Boys?
The wealthy British drivers who raced Bentleys in the 1920s. Woolf Barnato was the most successful, winning in 1928, 1929 and 1930.
Why is there such a long gap in Bentley's record?
Bentley stopped racing after 1930 and did not return to Le Mans until 2001. The 2003 win came seventy-three years after the previous one.
What car won in 2003?
The Bentley Speed 8, entered as Team Bentley and driven by Rinaldo Capello, Tom Kristensen and Guy Smith.
Was the 1924 win a works entry?
No. That car was entered privately by Duff and Aldington. It counts for Bentley the marque but not as a works victory.
Does Bentley still race at Le Mans?
No. The programme closed after the 2003 win and Bentley has not returned.
What is the Speed Six?
The Bentley that won Le Mans in 1929 and 1930, and the most successful racing Bentley of the pre-war period.
The Collection

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