Le Mans24:Bentley To Announce Comeback Next Summer

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While Formula 1 is still the top echelon for motorsports, Le Mans endurance racing looks to be more and more exciting for the major automakers.

Porsche recently confirmed its return to the top level LMP1 class in 2014 and Lexus, too, is rumored to be preparing an LFA race car for the GTE class.

Now Bentley is reported to be joining the sport, with an official announcement due next summer, according to Autocar.

Bentley is reportedly keen on entering the LMP1 category as well, where it would compete against its Volkswagen Group sister brands Audi and Porsche.

The latest information was revealed by Bentley boss Wolfgang Durheimer, who said building and racing a LMP1 race car would be a good move for the automaker but stressed that it was not the only avenue being investigated.

One suggestion is to race in areas where sister brands Porsche and Audi aren’t represented, particularly in parts of Asia, which is proving to be a vital market for Bentley.

As we previously reported, the last time a Bentley vehicle took to the track in top level motorsport was 2003, when the legendary brand from Crewe won the 24 Hours of Le Mans with the Bentley Speed 8. That’s an impressive accomplishment, since Bentley first ran the car in the 2001 season, after an absence from racing of some 71 years.

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