Bentley Blower Goes Racing

TGR Staff – 03/23/2023

Bentley’s Blower Continuation Series is set to make history once again with the debut of its first race car, Blower Car Zero. This luxury automobile will race across a series of prestigious events in 2023, paying homage to its ancestor’s rich heritage while pushing the limits of performance and endurance on the tracks of the UK, France, and Belgium.

Crafted by skilled artisans, the Blower Continuation Series represents the world’s first-ever pre-war continuation series, blending state-of-the-art laser-scanned technology with original 1929 drawings to create a masterpiece of engineering. Car Zero, in particular, draws inspiration from the iconic 4½-litre supercharged Team Car #2, a timeless beauty that remains one of the most coveted pieces in the revered Bentley Heritage Collection.

As it sets its sights on victory, Car Zero will embrace the legacy of its predecessor, taking on the Circuit de la Sarthe in Le Mans, where it will race as the first Bentley works car since the glorious triumph of the Speed 8 back in 2003. With 93 years of history driving it forward, the Blower Continuation Series is ready to showcase the best of Bentley’s unrivaled craftsmanship and performance in a truly unforgettable experience for automotive enthusiasts.

Modifications to allow Blower Car Zero to go racing are all safety-related. They include the installation of a rain light, wing mirrors, towing points, a fire extinguisher, and a battery isolation switch. The car also now holds a Historic Technical Passport (HTP), which certifies the car as eligible to compete in FIA-sanctioned events for historic vehicles.

Blower Car Zero will compete at three tracks in 2023:

• Donington Park, UK, 29-30 April
• Le Mans, France, 29 June – 3 July
• Spa, Belgium, 28-30 September

After Car Zero, 12 further Blower Continuation Series cars have been commissioned through Mulliner – Bentley’s bespoke and personalization division – with eight delivered and four still in build. Some of these customer cars will compete alongside Car Zero at Le Mans in the summer, together with original Bentley Team cars from the 1920s.     

“By going racing with Blower Car Zero, we will prove the performance, authenticity, and durability of our Continuation Series by taking on the original competition, and give our customers confidence that they too can take their continuation cars to the track. We’ve already proved the quality of the engineering within the car by completing a tough test of several hours at race pace around Goodwood, and it’s now time for the car to be unleashed for real racing. We’ll take the learnings from this race program and apply them to the upcoming Speed Six Continuation Series, for which the first engineering car is in build now.” – Paul Williams, Mulliner’s Chief Technical Officer.