British GT fans will come face to face with a piece of very special motorsport history at Donington Park next weekend (September 23/24) when Team Parker Racing host Bentley’s 2003 Le Mans 24 Hours-winning Speed 8 sports-prototype.
The GTP class-entered coupe driven by Rinaldo Capello, Guy Smith and nine-times outright Le Mans winner Tom Kristensen finished two laps clear of the sister machine. It was the British marque’s sixth triumph at Circuit de la Sarthe and first since 1930.
Bentley quit long-distance sportscar competition at the end of 2003 and has since focused its factory and customer racing efforts on GT3. Both Team Parker-entered Continentals have scored British GT victories this season, while its #31 driver crew of Rick Parfitt Jnr and Seb Morris head into the #DoningtonDecider with a 10.5-point championship lead.
But the Speed 8 won’t be the only unusual vehicle outside Team Parker’s VIP paddock hospitality suite over the weekend. Rick Parfitt’s personal sponsor, Indian Motorcycle - America’s oldest motorcycle manufacturer - will be showcasing its striking custom-built streamliner, the Spirit of Munro.
This one-of-a-kind bike is a tribute to honour Burt Munro whose 1920 Indian Scout - nicknamed the ‘Munro Special’ - set the now unbeatable under-1000cc land speed world record of 184.087mph at the Bonneville Salt Flats in 1967. Following Burt’s death the record was subsequently closed in salute to this remarkable home engineer.
New Zealander Munro, then aged 68, and his achievement were subsequently immortalised by Anthony Hopkins in the 2005 film, The World’s Fastest Indian.
Fans can see the Bentley Speed 8 and Spirit of Munro up close in the British GT paddock on both Saturday and Sunday. Paddock access is free for all general admission ticket holders. Advanced adult ticket prices start at just £12 while children aged 13-and-under attend for free!
Click here to reserve your #DoningtonDecider tickets. But hurry: advanced sales end on Wednesday 20 September!