By Chris Skeldon 
Bentley will return to Le Mans for classic car racing and will seek to repeat the success of 1929 with an exact replica of the original model. The first tests at Goodwood were successful.
Bentley will enter three races this year with the Blower Continuation, a model based on the No. 2 team car that competed at Le Mans 93 years ago.
The 4-liter replica 1929 Team Car #2 – Model Bentley The world’s most iconic, and one of the icons of the Bentley Heritage Collection – handcrafted using a combination of modern laser-scanned data and original drawings taken from the original model.
So, after more than nine decades of competing at Le Mans, Car Zero will take the original Blower design and race to victory – including at the Circuit de la Sarthe, becoming the first working Bentley car to take part in Le Mans. Speed 8 victory in 2003.
“By competing with Blower Car Zero, we will test the performance, originality and durability of our Continuation Series through participation in the original competition, and will give our customers confidence that they too can take their cars to the next level on the track,” commented Paul Williams, Mulliner Technical Director.
necessary changes
Bentley had to make some modifications to the Blower Continuation to be race-capable, but it was minimal and all about safety. These include the installation of rain lights, side mirrors, tow points, a fire extinguisher and a battery isolating switch. The car now also possesses a Historic Technical Passport (HTP), which certifies the vehicle’s fitness to compete in FIA Historic Vehicles sanctioned events.
In preparation for its racing debut, the Blower Continuation Car Zero recently completed a six-hour endurance test at Goodwood Circuit. The car recorded positive performance throughout the test period, covering 612 kilometers and an average speed of 134 km/h.
“We’ve already tested the engineering quality inside the car, completed a grueling several-hour test under race pace at Goodwood, and now it’s time to test the car in a real race,” explains Paul Williams.
“We will take the lessons from that racing program and apply them to the upcoming Speed Six Continuation Series, which is now the first engineered car under construction.”
Three races and four races
The Bentley Blower Continuation will be entered in three races: Donington Park, UK, April 29-30; Le Mans, France, June 29 – July 3 (2 races); Spa, Belgium, September 28-30.
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Drivers for the race program will be announced soon, and some motoring journalists with motorsports experience, as well as professional racing drivers, are expected to participate.