The summer of 2023 saw a remarkable dual 100th birthday celebration at Le Mans, first for the ‘modern' race in late May and then at the Le Mans Classic on the first weekend in July. The Classic naturally encompassed many more historic cars and saw the running of a truly unique event as a support race to the main grids – over 70 vintage Bentleys entered for a seven-lap race of the immortal 13km track.
The scale of this event, organised by Benjafield's Racing Club, was possible because of the vast track length and spacious grid at Le Mans, and couldn't be repeated at any ‘normal' circuit. Even with 75 spaces available, the event was soon over-subscribed, mainly from the UK and Europe, but from as far afield as USA, Canada, Argentina and Ecuador. Entrants included 3-litre, 4½-litre and Speed Six Team Cars that actually raced at Le Mans from 192330, achieving five outright victories.
Around twenty of the cars were flagged off from central London a few days before
