The one marque that has come to symbolise the heroic spirit of France's premier motorsport event is, ironically, an English one. The 24 Hours of Le Mans is forever linked to the Bentley Boys and their thundering chariots, dubbed by Ettore Bugatti “the world's fastest lorries”.
Even today Bentley is keen to remind its customers of the brand's racing heritage. One of its models, the Mulsanne, is named after the Sarthe circuit's long back straight, and now it has announced six new Le Mans Limited Edition specifications, available only in North America.
These are not new models, but exclusive interior trim packages, each inspired by a driver from Bentley's six victories at Le Mans.
RACING SUCCESS
From the company's start in 1919, Bentley was remarkably successful in both racing and setting new speed records. Founder WO Bentley, a successful designer of aircraft engines during the First World War, was a determined supporter of motorsport as a means of establishing his fledging car company's reputation.
The company's racing success was achieved through its engineering competence and the skills of a group of - mostly amateur - drivers known as the Bentley Boys.
After being the sole British entry and placing fourth in the inaugural 1923 race, Bentley won the Le Mans 24 Hours endurance race in 1924 - and went on to win it four consecutive times from 1927 to 1930.
In 2003, 83 years later, Bentley took yet another win, finishing first and second, with Guy Smith piloting the first of two Speed 8's across the finish line.
LE MANS LIMITED EDITIONS
To celebrate these victories, just 48 examples of each 'Le Mans Limited Edition' model will be made, each with a special numbered badge, Le Mans Edition clock face, diamond-quilted hide upholstery and door panels, an embroidered badge on each headrest, drilled alloy foot pedals, specially embossed and illuminated tread plates, sports tuned suspension and steering, 'quad effect' tailpipes, exclusive two-piece five-spoked dark tint alloy rims and specific interior veneers and exterior colours.
Continental GT models will be available in the second quarter of 2013 with Mulsanne Le Mans Edition models available from the third quarter.
THE BENTLEY BOYS
John Duff
The original Bentley Boy, John Duff gave the winged B its first win at Le Mans in 1924. After a fourth place finish in 1923, Duff returned to Le Mans the following year with Bentley co-driver Jack Clement to defeat the leading sports cars of the day.
Cars bearing Duff's name will be finished in a special silver colour called Moonbeam, with interior trim in cream and black, accented by contrast stitching and piano black and bright aluminium trim elements.
Dudley Benjafield
A medical doctor who competed for the sheer pleasure of driving and the thrill of the race, “Benjy” drove at Le Mans a number of times and won in 1927.
The 'Benjy' limited-edition cars will be finished in the same dark green as the 2003 Speed 8's, with two-tone cream and green interiors featuring contrast stitching, dark-stained burr walnut and bright aluminium trim elements.
Woolf Barnato
Considered 'the best driver we ever had' by WO Bentley, the son of Kimberley diamond magnate Barney Barnato remains the only driver to have won at Le Mans every time he entered the race, scoring three out of three in 1928 with Bernard Rubin, 1929 with Sir Henry 'Tim Birkin' and 1930 with Glen Kidston.
The Barnato limited-edition cars will be finished in granite, with grey interior trim and black contrast stitching set off by carbon-fibre trim in Continental models and dark-stained burr walnut dark-anodised aluminium in Mulsanne versions and or
Sir Henry 'Tim' Birkin
A formidable personality, Birkin was a former fighter pilot renowned for his willingness to be utterly ruthless with his car to achieve a winning result.
Birkin Bentleys will be finished in white and trimmed in black leather with white contrast stitching and trim elements in pian o black and bright aluminium.
Glen Kidston
The 1930 winner was known as an adventurer; rough, tough, sharp and fearless.
Kidston models will be painted dark sapphire blue with tan and blue leather trim, contrast stitching, dark-stained burr walnut and dark-anodised aluminium.
Guy Smith
A central figure in Bentley's attack on both the Sebring 12-Hours and the Le Mans 24 Hours, Guy Smith secured his place in racing legend at the Sarthe circuit in 2003, when he was selected to pilot the winning Bentley Speed 8 across the finish line for Bentley's sixth Le Mans win.
The cars carrying his name will be black inside and out with red stitching and piano black and dark aluminium trim elements.