LE MANS CENTENARY CELEBRATION

As the legendary French 24-hour endurance race marks its 100th anniversary, so we celebrate some of the most iconic cars ever to race there

Words Jack Phillips Photography Charlie B, Mark Fagelson Photography

LAST WEEKEND, LE MANS hosted more race fans than ever before, for a celebration like no other; the grand race was turning 100. In 1923, a fair field of mainly French drivers sought to test their cars and their own mettle for a 24-hour race in central France.

Fortunately for the organisers, the sole Bentley – which had only begrudging support from the factory – fell out of contention, but WO Bentley was a convert. More help would be offered for 1924, and the drivers were rewarded with victory – although still not as an official Works team. Come 1930, when the very car seen at Bicester today raced with a supercharger (also against WO’s intentions), the marque was dominant, with four wins in four.

This supercharged 4½ Litre was a key reason for the final victory, because ‘Bentley Boy’ Sir Henry ‘Tim’ Birkin swapped the lead with Mercedes-Benz’s Rudi Caracciola for so many hours at such a pace that neither car could cut it any longer, leaving Bentley’s remaining racers to cruise to a 1-2. Known as the ‘Birkin Blower’ after its creator, it is arguably the most famous racing Bentley of them all, and is the jewel in the marque’s heritage collection.

The Bentley Continental GT Le Mans Collection also seen on track this weekend has been created to celebrate the 2003 win, 20 years on, with a ‘7’ on the grille recalling the winning Speed 8, along with myriad more touches. It’s powered by the W12 engine, with the run of 48 cars among the last to use the 6.0-litre unit.

The other British coupé seen in Flywheel’s Le Mans Centenary Celebration collection is a genuine rarity. The TWR R9R was created by Tom Walkinshaw Racing to bring the thrill of Group C racing to the road, and beneath the Peter Stevensdesigned body is an XJR-9. Once the project reached its final stages,

OPPOSITE From one of the earliest Bentley racing cars to one of the brand’s latest models, our collection features Le Mans legends live on track.

Jaguar succumbed to its brilliance and told TWR to put a Jaguar badge on the nose. This R9R, owned by Andy Maynard, pre-dates that. While it never raced at La Sarthe, the chassis has Le Mans-winning pedigree.

As does the AC Cobra 39 PH being driven here by Kevin Kivlochan. In 1963, Ninian Sanderson shared the slippery hard-top-wearing Cobra to seventh overall and a class win with Peter Bolton – the best result of any open-top Cobra at Le Mans.

Jack Sears won just about everything in it in 1964 as well, taking class victories at prestigious meetings at both Goodwood and Silverstone – among others with J Willment Racing, which became JW Automotive when he combined with John Wyer.

The GTD40 – one of the best GT40 replicas made – of Paddock Speedshop honours the Le Manswinning squad with its iconic blue and orange Gulf livery.

2023 Bentley

Continental GT Le Mans Collection

1929 Bentley

41/2 Litre ‘Blower’

N/A Ford GTD40

1990 TWR

JaguarSport R9R

1963 AC Cobra

2023 Ferrari Testa Rossa J

1961 Morgan Plus 4

SuperSports

1966 Bizzarrini P538