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Donington Historic Festival to celebrate 100 years since Bentley first won Le Mans

Words: Elliott Hughes | Photography: Donington Historic Festival

The Donington Historic Festival, to be held on on May 4-5, follows the Goodwood Members’ Meeting as the UK’s second major Historic motor sport event of 2024. It promises two jam-packed days of wheel-to-wheel racing at the Donington Park Circuit in Leicestershire. 

In addition, there will be on-track parades, an open-access paddock, pitlane walks, a trade village and hundreds of classics on display.

Bentley is playing a central role in the 2024 Donington Historic Festival, as the event honours the 100th anniversary of the British marque’s first victory at the Le Mans 24 Hours

Bentley is playing a central role in the 2024 Donington Historic Festival, as the event honours the 100th anniversary of the British marque’s first victory at the Le Mans 24 Hours

The cars on this year’s race card are as diverse as ever, ranging from sports machinery of the 1940s and 1960s GTs, through to Touring Car icons of the 1980s. The calibre of drivers also promises to be impressive, with past editions of the festival boasting star names from past and present-day BTCC and Le Mans racing.

Bentley is playing a central role in the 2024 Donington Historic Festival, as the event honours the 100th anniversary of the British marque’s first victory at the Le Mans 24 Hours. The celebrations comprise on-track and static displays of several of the company’s most significant competition machines, including Bentley Speed 8 chassis 0004/1 that raced at Le Mans in 2003, as well as the EXP Speed 8 Le Mans GT prototype chassis 002/1.

The brand’s early Le Mans challengers will come out of hibernation for the Mad Jack race for pre-war sports cars. Bentley first won the famous French endurance race in 1924 – only the second year the event was staged – before going on to claim four more overall victories in the pre-war era. Away from the circuit, Bentley enthusiasts will be able to delve into the brand’s fascinating Le Mans history with several Q&A panel discussions.

For more information and the full Donington Historic Festival timetable, click here.

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