Bentley Considering Return to Le Mans

BentleyBentleyUnited Kingdom, 1919 > present37 models
1460 photos
5 videos
wants to get back into sports car racing, especially at Le Mans. It has hired Graham Humphrys, designer of the BMW V12 LMRBMW V12 LMRGermany, 1999 > present3 photos
, to work on a new race car for them. What is not yet known is in what class the luxury automaker will compete, it appears that the company is shooting for a GT class car. 

Humphrys joins John Wickam who headed the team's entry into the 24 Hours of Le Mans with the Speed 8Bentley Speed 8United Kingdom, 2003 > present6 photos
as a consultant on the new racing team. Humphrys also has a past working with the Williams Formula 1 Team. 

“Graham is helping us out with the feasibility work; he has a lot of experience in both GT and prototypes,” said  Brian Gush, Bentley chassis and powertrain director.

Gush went on to say that the team is exploring its options, but it will most likely find its place in the GT classes. 

“We are looking at a number of things, quite a few of them GT classes and other classes as well, but it is important to stress that no decisions have been made,” said Gush.

A GT challenger seems even more likely because of Audi's competition in the LMP1 class. Bentley and AudiAudiGermany, 1909 > present83 models
8213 photos
27 videos
exist under the same Volkswagen Group corporate umbrella, and it seems unlikely that it would allow internal competition. 

Last time Bentley competed at Le Mans in 2001, Audi took a break from racing to let them compete in 2003. The Bentley Speed 8 used the same engine as the Audi R8 race carAudi R8Germany, 2000 > 20057 versions
10 photos
and was raced by Joest Racing who also campaigned the R8s. While Porsche also will be competing in LMP racing in 2014, it has attained a measure of independence from VAG that Bentley has yet to receive. 

A competitive car in the GT class would allow Bentley to compete with PorschePorscheGermany, 1931 > present43 models
4639 photos
29 videos
, BMWBMWGermany, 1918 > present87 models
8471 photos
43 videos
, Aston MartinAston MartinUnited Kingdom, 1914 > present62 models
1872 photos
24 videos
, VIperDodge ViperUnited States of America, 1989 > 20064 series
15 versions
42 photos
, CorvetteChevrolet CorvetteUnited States of America, 1953 > present7 series
137 versions
552 photos
2 videos
, FerrariFerrariItaly, 1947 > present233 models
5131 photos
37 videos
and LotusLotusUnited Kingdom, 1952 > present68 models
951 photos
7 videos
. 

Bentley says that it has not internal deadline for returning to racing, but by building a team, it is at least insinuating that its introduction might be just a few years away. 

Source: Autoweek