PHOTO ABOVE (Copyright - ACO/ARCHIVES): LE MANS (SARTHE, FRANCE), CIRCUIT DES 24 HEURES, 24 HOURS OF LE MANS, SATURDAY 15 & SUNDAY 16 JUNE 2003. The Bentley EXP Speed 8s of Capello-Kristensen-Smith (#7) and Blundell-Brabham-Herbert (#8) on their way to a triumphant one-two.

Bentley made it into the top 5 overall three years in a row in the early 2000s: the trio Wallace-Leitzinger-van de Poele finished third in 2001 then fourth in 2002 before the marque's triumphant one-two in 2003 thanks to winners Capello-Kristensen-Smith and second-place finishers Blundell-Brabham-Herbert.

Eleven drivers represented Bentley from 2001 to 2003: Mark Blundell, David Brabham, Martin Brundle, Dindo Capello, Johnny Herbert, Tom Kristensen, Butch Leitzinger, Stéphane Ortelli, Guy Smith, Eric van de Poele and Andy Wallace. Among them figured nine previous or future 24 Hours of Le Mans winners, with 19 victories cumulatively.

PHOTO ABOVE (Copyright - ACO/ARCHIVES): LE MANS (SARTHE, FRANCE), CIRCUIT DES 24 HEURES, 24 HOURS OF LE MANS, SATURDAY 15 & SUNDAY 16 JUNE 2003. Tom Kristensen, Dindo Capello and Guy Smith (from left to right) have a total of 13 wins between them at the 24 Hours.

Tom Kristensen, Dindo Capello and Guy Smith – At the wheel of the Bentley EXP Speed 8, Tom Kristensen clinched his fifth – and fourth consecutive – victory at the 24 Hours. It was the first of three wins for Dindo Capello who would go on to reach the top step on the podium again with Kristensen in 2004 and 2008. Guy Smith, their teammate in 2003, finished second in 2004 with Audi. His last participation in the race dates back to 2011 with Rebellion Racing.

Andy Wallace and Martin Brundle – Before joining Bentley, this duo helped Jaguar win the 24 Hours: Wallace in 1988 with Scottish driver Johnny Dumfries and Dutch driver Jan Lammers, and Brundle in 1990 with the American Price Cobb and the Dane John Nielsen.

PHOTO BELOW (Copyright - ACO/ARCHIVES): LE MANS (SARTHE), FRANCE, DRIVERS' PARADE, 24 HOURS OF LE MANS, FRIDAY 15 JUNE 2001. Andy Wallace, Butch Leitzinger and Eric van de Poele (from left to right) finished third in 2001 and fourth in 2002.

Mark Blundell and David Brabham – The Brit and the Australian both made their marks at the 24 Hours with Peugeot, in 1992 and 2009 respectively. In 1990, Blundell also scored the first pole position for a Japanese marque at Le Mans with Nissan. Before reaching the top step on the overall podium in 2009, Brabham had secured two class wins in 2007 and 2008 as a factory Aston Martin driver.

PHOTO ABOVE (Copyright - ACO/ARCHIVES): LE MANS (SARTHE, FRANCE), 24 HOURS OF LE MANS, JUNE 2003. Johnny Herbert, Mark Blundell and David Brabham (from left to right) each boast one win at the 24 Hours, in 1991, 1992 and 2009 respectively.

Johnny Herbert and Stéphane Ortelli – Both drivers have written remarkable pages in the history of the 24 Hours. In 1991, Herbert and teammates Bertrand Gachot and Volker Weidler helped Mazda become the first Japanese marque to win the race. In 1998, along with Laurent Aiello and Allan McNish, Ortelli gave the legendary Porsche 911 its only overall victory.

Eric van de Poele and Butch Leitzinger – The Belgian and the American have triumphed in their respective classes. In 1998, van de Poele won the last victory to date for a Ferrari prototype (LMP2, eighth overall). In 2001 and 2002, Leitzinger's top results with Bentley (third then fourth overall) at the 24 Hours were wins in the now defunct LMGTP class.

PHOTO ABOVE (Copyright - ACO/ARCHIVES): LE MANS (SARTHE, FRANCE), CIRCUIT DES 24 HEURES, 24 HOURS OF LE MANS, SUNDAY 16 JUNE 2003. The team celebrates the one-two scored by the new "Bentley Boys" and the marque's sixth win at the 24 Hours of Le Mans...its first since 1930!

Related articles:

BENTLEY AT THE 24 HOURS OF LE MANS (1) – TOP ANECDOTES, DATES AND WINS

BENTLEY AT THE 24 HOURS OF LE MANS (2) – 1924-1929: THE ORIGINAL "BENTLEY BOYS"