2000 Bentley EXP Speed 8 Development Prototype w/ Cosworth DFR V8: Warm Up, Accelerations & Sound!

Yes, you read it correctly: this Bentley doesn't have its typical Audi turbocharged V8 but a naturally-aspirated 3.5-liter Cosworth DFR. And this has nothing to do with possible current management costs but with the history of this particular chassis. In fact what you see is the very first chassis (RTN001/01) ever built for Bentley's planned three-year campaign in the closed-cockpit LMGTP class.
When Bentley was purchased by Volkswagen in 1998 new funds became available and the brand began to have a great interest in motorsport again, especially with the desire to obtain their sixth 24 Hours of Le Mans win after the early five successes back in 1920s. The project wasn't so difficult to start as the Volkswagen Group was already involved in endurace racing with Audi and their R8. Furthermore, in order not to annoy each other, the regulations of those years allowed two different top classes which could both fight for the overall victory: LMP900 for open-cockpit prototypes and LMGTP for closed-cockpit ones.
Bentley relied on Racing Technology Norfolk (RTN) for the whole design, development and manufacturing of the new car, which was called EXP Speed 8, a way to remark its experimental status and the use of a eight cylinder engine, as per traditional Bentley nomenclature. The engine would have been the only point in common between the two sister cars, R8 and Speed 8, but when the first 'EXP' was build and ready, its engine was not. To have waited until Audi provided the required motors would have meant delaying the programme another year.
So, and in complete secrecy, the Bentley went through almost its entire development and validation programme powered by a DFR. And it actually did the team a massive favour. Not only did it match the 600bhp expected from the Audi engine, like all DFVs it was not exactly the smoothest running engine. In fact it vibrated so much the car had to be phenomenally well built not to be shaken to pieces by it. The result was a car that, once teething troubles were overcome, would run with enviable reliability throughout its career.
RTN001/01 was never raced but it was used a lot in development tests between 2000 and 2001, when the actual racing career of the Speed 8 started. Almost 24 years after it last turned a wheel on a race track, it has been rebuilt and recreated in an exact 'period correct' specification by the guys of Progressive Motorsport.
Watch it now in action fielded in its very first race, the first round of the 2024 Endurance Racing Legends series, at Mugello Circuit during the recent Mugello Classic weekend by @peterautoracing!
0:00 Walkaround & Warm Up
1:45 Pit Exit
2:27 In Action On Track
#Bentley #BentleyEXPSpeed8 #BentleySpeed8
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
I have to thank my friends and youtubers @Italiansupercarvideo and @NM2255 for the great collaboration done. Don't forget to subscribe to their channels!!
-- Subscribe to my 2nd channel here: / @19bozzy92ndchannel
You can also find and follow me on:
- Flickr: www.flickr.com/photos/19bozzy92/
- Facebook: / 19bozzy92yt
- Instagram: / ste19bozzy92
- Camcorder: Canon Legria HF G30 + Canon DM-100 Microphone, Canon Legria GX10 + Zoom H5, Sony FDR AX700 + Audio-Technica Microphone
- Event: Mugello Classic 2024
- Where: Mugello Circuit, Italy
Link To My Channel: / 19bozzy92
THANKS FOR WATCHING AND SUBSCRIBE!!!

[@dannsgamingfails8899]

Body work says modern endurance racer, Sound says: 70’s F1 car

[@ventisette.]

That’s where the engine comes from (sort of) 😊

[@saadcarnerd]

Perfect at it's peak

[@K31TH3R]

And the fire at 1:44 says steam engine.

[@wilkowilkins363]

DFR was final iteration of the DFV Introduced in 1998 believe it or not and was thumping out nearly 700bhp!

[@CROWNZI]

It doesnt look modern actually, i thought it was a previous gen car at first

[@mitchell-wallisforce7859]

"Not only did it match the 600bhp expected from the Audi engine, *like all DFVs it was not exactly the smoothest running engine. In fact it vibrated so much the car had to be phenomenally well built not to be shaken to pieces by it.* The result was a car that, once teething troubles were overcome, would run with enviable reliability throughout its career." I'm _wheezing._ As racing car origin stories go, there are cooler ones, more tragic ones, more technologically significant ones......but NEVER one that funny. But hey, look on the bright side. Not having the Audi engine in it means that THIS Speed 8 sounds far more beautifully outspoken than any other. A car closely related to twin-turbo protos you can barely hear, and yet it's one the deaf couldn't miss. Welcome back.

[@mortythealien2783]

*DFR

[@mattgavioli6762]

This Speed8 is one of the most stunning looking racecar ever made, the fact that it's not as famous and remembered as many others is simply a shame

[@nagarenius]

One of the best looking Prototypes ever. :O

[@playeryale]

agreed. almost better looking in every way than 1999 r8c, except maybe the tail

[@coreydean_99]

I will agree with this as well Imagine this with the V8 twin turbo combo of the Sauber C9/C11!!!

[@nagarenius]

@@coreydean_99 that would be sick >:)

[@alexhndr]

You have slept for too long, my friend Time to wake up, and finally compete.. for real. Welcome Back, EXP Speed 8. Enjoy the racing career ahead.

[@carlrs15]

long has he slumbered....waiting

[@camrsr5463]

I wish Bentley had kept developing their GT3 car. Would have been really cool to see them back at Le Mans.

[@LagmasterB]

They might make it in with Continental GT eventually

[@limpetarch98k]

@@LagmasterBNot until they phase out the Audi R8 LMS. And tbh, between a proper sports car and a big boy saturated with leather and tax evasion who then gets turned into a race car, I’ll take the former everytime

[@LagmasterB]

@@limpetarch98k lol same..continental gt seemed like it shouldn’t be able to compete, but it did really well (fanatec maybe?).

[@carti.2jz11]

Sound so much better than the OG speed 8

[@ec6843]

This is the OG Speed 8, as it was the original development prototype.

[@K31TH3R]

1:44 "Oh, crap, he's starting it! Better go grab the back half of a broken leaf blower and waft some air at the giant exhaust fire so this thing doesn't Hindenburg another garage." -That guy probably.

[@brdllc]

It’s unreal how low the v8 is mounted, such an incredible car. Best looking prototype of all time imo

[@wunkskorks2623]

This car came outta nowhere back in the day. Audi had it sewn up and these guys came, wrecked shop, then left.

[@limpetarch98k]

But to be fair, it was the exact same guys from the VW group, regardless of if its Audi or Bentley

[@badabingbadaboom17]

i didnt read the title but as soon as i heard the high pitch roar of the engine, i knew it was a v8

[@ianbarber311]

Best looking of that era! Great video, again!

[@Cerebro960]

Despite the years it is beautiful ❤😍 it sounds very good and turns on the first time.

[@StingrayOfficial]

This car looks like its hitting the track for the very first time.

[@CaptainNikolaiIlyichSnegiryov]

We can say that car is a legend of Les 24h Du Mans I like the fact that Bentley keep the original British racing color

[@Christoffski]

Same designer as the Peugeot 905 & Toyota TS020. They are family. ❤

[@blex5579]

Bentley was way ahead of its time in terms of design...cheers from germany

[@johnnyd2666]

Great filming and panning shots as always, thanks for sharing.

[@enricocelani8292]

Eccola qui!!! La stavo aspettando! Spettacolo! Grazie per il video e per le info perché non sono riuscito a trovare niente sulla rete riguardo questo prototipo.

[@ziggyfreud5357]

Amazing. Literally gives me goosebumps

[@stephanemoreau-nf4ie]

amazing job guys

[@apusama3503]

My all-time favorite...❤❤❤

[@DrPilotRedC]

Now THAT’S a race car!

[@robertwieruszewski3653]

Elo! Dawno dawno temu w LeMans! Piękny i hałaśliwy! No i ten lakier! No i puchar! Dzięki!!!!!!!

[@martincollins7347]

Thank you for putting the history of the car, can easily make the assumption that it has the wrong engine in it but it doesn't.

[@Roddy_Zeh]

Well I'll be damned...didn't know about this! Nice! 👏🏻😁

[@carti.2jz11]

Me too !

[@playeryale]

so much sexier than the winning speed8

[@wololo10]

Just the sound

[@LagmasterB]

When they finally dialed this car in, there was no competition. The great Tom Kristensen was up 2 laps in the other Bentley, driven by David Brabham, Blundell and Herbert.

[@gafrers]

Stunning

[@repairdrive]

2000??!! God this car still feels new in my mind!

[@hertzer2000]

Glorious!

[@kimwarfield1587]

What a beautiful car, and the Cosworth engine sounds great.

[@wilkowilkins363]

Bloody wonderful ❤

[@joe125ful]

Looks very fast in corners!

[@gustavoflorio5383]

Bozzy, the best!

[@orf.designs]

Another one that reminds of GT4 instantly

[@d1want34]

a monster of a car

[@Gaaaaaaaaaaad]

What a beauty

[@BDR_Photo]

4:16 With the Speed 8 in front. Perfect. Bozzy would you mind helping me out with your DM-100 setup? I just got a GX10 (Vixia here in the US) and that microphone. I tested it out on some race cars and even with the camera volume down to 15 it still clipped out. Do you have the attenuator on? How about the audio compression (Low, high, or off)? Any other pointers?

[@user-sr5sr5vz4s]

Super

[@weesky2000]

Nice Audi

[@kantina4765]

Is the dfr at all similar to the 90s cart engines? How on earth did that thing end up in the back of one of these.

[@sos15_yt]

DFX used in CART was derived from DFV used in F1,DFV also was evolving into DFY,DFZ and finally DFR Key differences - DFX:2.65 L turbocharged engine - DFR: 3.5 L NA engine

[@chopperbristow]

Haha, love it! Mega dollar composites but a shitty old hose for ventilation in the cab 😂

[@brdllc]

That’s what everybody still uses, if it ain’t broke don’t fix it I guess 😂

[@jareknowak8712]

How much power it had with this engine?

[@5555petros]

It'd be really cool if it got modified to road legal status like that R390 GT1.

[@sos15_yt]

Suprising choice of engine for a development prototype when 3rd millenium just started

[@clarissafarmer3547]

Sounds killer, how many rpm’s?

[@Hvr0215]

Around 11.000

[@clarissafarmer3547]

@@Hvr0215 11.0 or 11 000 😉

[@K31TH3R]

@@clarissafarmer3547 11 RPM. You see, she's steam powered. You can see them ignite the boiler at 1:45.

[@Doctor_Fromm]

Вот бы у меня Жигули так же ездили

[@Turismo860]

Is this the same car im thinking of in Gran Turismo 4?

[@dabrula]

Yes

[@gonzogonzalez3341]

No

[@thegarlicbread4422]

Not quite, the Bentley Speed 8 in that game was the race-winning model from 2003.

[@sos15_yt]

Yes and no Yes:It's the Bentley No:This is the EXP Speed 8,car used in-game is 2003 Speed 8 (not EXP,just Speed 8)

[@SmallBlogV8]

At medium revs it sounds like a V8 Ferrari from the period. Like a 360 Challenge or something. But then it carries on revving to the moon!

[@Johnwalter1044]

Speed 8 Speed-eight Speed-ate Speed-date Speed-hate Speed-bathe Speed-rate ...

[@jeshkam]

I am the God of hell fire and I bring you: 1:45

[@jareknowak8712]

O kurcze, nie spodziewałem się tutaj Ciebie.

[@jeshkam]

@@jareknowak8712 Zaraz zaraz, bo lekko przysnąłem przy komentarzu A.Borowczyka. 😁 Z kim mam przyjemność?

[@K31TH3R]

Just igniting the boiler. She'll do 21 knots at full steam.

[@jareknowak8712]

@@jeshkam Rozmawialismy kiedys w komentarzach na jakims kanale z retro TV.

[@jeshkam]

@@jareknowak8712 Nie wiem, dlaczego mi kasuje komentarze, ale jeszcze jedna próba - czyżby "Unsolved Mysteries"? Satelita Astra? Nie pamiętam pod jakim filmem to było. 🙂

[@TimOldBag]

😊😊😊

[@hermann5880]

Optisch eine Augenweide, und die Akustik ist phänomenal.....

[@LagmasterB]

To think that this was 3 years before the winning car..

[@MrMyPersonality]

Gran Turismo 3

[@llama_wehraboo7274]

:D

[@brdllc]

:D

[@RRVCrinale]

How funny is that, huh? I think that's the only time I can come up with where a risky engine choice in development _saved_ a racing program.

[@mufasamufufu-rj6ti]

Bro, steering wheel is on the wrong side.

[@pete-mz9vr]

Would nice if something would be mentioned about the drivers?

[@michaeladamsky3394]

Its not from 2000 , it raced 2001 - 2003 .. 😄

[@brdllc]

Did you read the title or description at all?

[@juanmontoya6622]

Excellent daily driver, low highway miles, garaged, one owner....rumored to be Chuck Norris, err, Fernando Alonso's grandmother. Driving skill into old age runs in the family.🤣😂🤣

[@IMTHEBIGGESTCUNT]

Those exhaust tips! 😃❤️👍

[@MRFUCKOFF202]

:O I had no idea this was a thing