BENTLEY’S CONTINUATION SERIES HEADS BACK TO LE MANS IN STYLE WITH ICONIC PHOTO RECREATION
Bentley is throwing it back to the golden era of endurance racing with a full factory-supported team of Continuation Series cars set to tackle the legendary Le Mans Classic from July 3-6. In the biggest Bentley works team to hit the Circuit de la Sarthe since 1930, three Blower Continuation models and a single Speed Six will go wheel-to-wheel in the pre-war class, reviving memories of Bentley’s earliest motorsport triumphs. Each of these hand-built machines was created by the Mulliner Classic division as part of Bentley’s ambitious Continuation Series - an extraordinary project that brought long-retired racing icons back to life with modern craftsmanship and painstaking historical accuracy. Now, they’re doing exactly what they were born to do: race. The effort is backed by Bentley’s classic racing programme, with owners receiving months of preparation, testing, and support to get their cars race-ready. Come race day, each driver will be flanked by a dedicated race engineer and mechanic, all under the watchful eye of Race Manager Dave Argent - whose resume includes multiple seasons with the successful Continental GT3 factory effort. Before hitting the track, the team marked the occasion with a recreation of one of Bentley’s most iconic photographs. On 24 June, the four cars and their drivers gathered on Mount Street in London’s Mayfair district - just a stone’s throw from the former apartment of Bentley Boy Bernard Rubin - to recreate the famed 1929 team portrait taken after Bentley’s fourth Le Mans win. That legendary year, Woolf Barnato and Tim Birkin led a Speed Six to victory ahead of three Bentley 4½ Litres, sweeping the top four spots.
Fast forward to 2025, and the new-generation “Bentley Boys and Girls” are channeling the same spirit. The modern reimagining features all four current drivers, joined by Mulliner’s Special Projects Lead, Ben Linde. He sums up the mission simply: “This is about more than racing. It’s about continuing a legacy—giving our Continuation Series customers the chance to experience their cars as they were meant to be used. It’s authentic, it’s exciting, and it’s a celebration of Bentley’s racing DNA. Being part of a recognised factory team at Le Mans is a huge moment for everyone involved.”
Ahead of Le Mans Classic, the quartet of cars saw proper track action at the Donington Historic Festival in May. Competing in the ‘Mad Jack’ Trophy for pre-war sports cars, it was a full-throttle shakedown that proved the cars are far more than static museum pieces. Each machine was pushed hard in period-correct style, with owner-drivers discovering just how physical pre-war racing really is. One of them, Mark M., reflected after racing his Speed Six: “These cars take real muscle to hustle around. Hats off to the guys who did that for 24 hours straight back in the day! I had a proper scrap towards the end of the race and I think I bettered my qualifying time too. I’m getting the hang of it. But the best part? I’ve raced an authentic 1930 Bentley. Not many people can say that.”
Among the standout entrants is Jack Boyd Smith Jr., a well-known U.S. collector and founder of the prestigious JBS Collection. He flew in with his wife Laura to watch their Blower Continuation car stretch its legs at Donington, with professional driver Stuart Morley at the wheel. After narrowly missing out on a podium at last year’s Le Mans Classic, the team has its sights firmly set on silverware this July. For Smith Jr., the decision to join Bentley’s Continuation programme was a no-brainer: “I’ve always loved the look of the Blower—it’s a crowd magnet in our collection. But more than that, I joined because Bentley was behind it. That authenticity matters. There are only twelve of these in the world, and owning one means you’re part of a rare, passionate fraternity.”
From the streets of Mayfair to the Mulsanne Straight, Bentley’s past is meeting its present in a way that few brands can match. These aren’t replicas - they’re living, breathing continuations of Le Mans-winning legends, supported by a team that honours the original Bentley Boys not just in spirit, but in engineering, grit, and glorious noise.
Take a look at the YouTube video from a couple of years ago where well-known YouTuber, Shmee150, got up close with the iconic Bentley Continuation Series. Rad: Join Shmee150 and Discover the Bentley Blower Continuation Series | Bentley Motors
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