Race/Series: Le Mans 24 Hours 2003
Result: Overall winner, 377 laps
Drivers: Rinaldo Capello (I)/Tom Kristensen (DK)/Guy Smith (GB)
The Speed 8 first competed at Le Mans in 2001, as the EXP Speed 8, in the first year of a 3 year programme. Unlike the majority of its counterparts the Speed 8 featured a closed cockpit. As a result it won its class in 2001, 2002 and 2003, due to the fact that it was the only protoype in the closed category! However, it was outright victory that Bentley wanted, and in 2003 they returned for the final year of the programme with a heavily revised Speed 8 that was virtually a new car. The #7 car started on pole position and completed 377 laps to take Bentley's first win since 1930, followed home by the #8 car. This result was due in no small part to the fact that Audi and Bentley are both a part of the Volkswagen group. The Speed 8 shared many parts with the dominant Audi R8, including the 4 litre turbocharged V8 engine. Nevertheless, it is Bentley's name that will go down in the records, and as a collector of Le Mans winning cars the Speed 8 is an essential addition.
Before I begin the review proper, it must be pointed out that this model is from Autoart's Motorsport line. This means it is a sealed model, with no opening features, and as a result, there are no categories in the review for either engine or interior. The introduction of these models has caused much debate amongst collectors, and I am not a fan of them. This was a one-off purchase because I had to have it as a Le Mans winning car. As a result, I will give two overall scores for this car. One will be based purely on the categories I have reviewed, but the other 'adjusted' score will give the average taking into account a score of 0 for the engine and interior categories. It is up to you to decide how you feel about these models, and you can choose which score to take.
The model is by Autoart in 1:18 scale, and originally retailed at around £40, but has since been reduced to £30. Packaging is a window style box.
Exterior
The exterior of this model is a sight to behold. Scale and stance perfectly capture the real car, and anything that you see on the 1:1 appears to have been replicated. Openings are perforated and beautifully cut. There is none of the crudeness and poor fit that can be seen on budget or even lower premium models. Headlights have convincing bulbs behind flush fitting lenses. Rear lights are tiny but replicated nicely. It is the small details that really make this exterior so stunning though. The delicate aerials, the tens of arrows and instruction stickers that adorn this car, the seperate fuel filler piece. One thing that caught my eye is that you can read the years on the stickers that adorn the front spoiler, commemorating Bentley's five previous Le Mans successes. Autoart have not modelled the car with the sixth sticker that was later added to the car after the 2003 victory, so the model replicates the car as it ran in the race. It is a pity that the finely detailed catches that release the body parts further serve to remind you that on this model they are staying firmly in place. However, judged purely on its own the exterior will rival very nearly anything else that other companies can offer, and it only fails to achieve a perfect 10 because there is always room for improvement on just about every model.
Score: 9/10
Paint
The first thing that struck me about the paint on this car was that it is not to my eyes quite the correct colour. Maybe I am not remembering the car quite correctly, and maybe photos I have seen do not give a true colour either, but I thought that the real colour was less metallic and a slightly more blue shade of green than Autoart have used. However, if there is a discrepancy the model does not really suffer for it. The paint itself is applied just about perfectly to every appropriate surface and edge, and there are no visible flaws anywhere on my car. Nothing else to be said about the basic green paint.
Score: 9/10
Tampo and Decals
The livery on this car has been captured perfectly, with the swooping silver stripes and Bentley badges all in place, and the sponsors logos accurately replicated and positioned. Also worth a mention is the carbon fibre effect that covers a large portion of the front bodywork and parts of the rear wing. The pattern and colouring is so convinving that it could almost be the real thing. As mentioned above, the detail in the small intructions and arrows all over the bodywork is simply superb, and some of the lettering is unbelievably small and fine. This could hardly be done any better and another good score reflects just how good the exterior of this car is overall.
Score: 9/10
Tyres and Wheels
Tyres on this car are racing slicks, and there are no obvious moulding lines on the surface of the tyres. Sidewalls are marked correctly with Michelin. The tyres look convincing and not at all plastic like, and they actually feel like rubber, squashing if you squeeze them. The wheels, like the rest of the exterior, are excellent: perfectly formed and painted in a glossy black. The correct colouring of red on the left side and a dark green on the right is used on the hub centres and wheel nuts. The wheels are marked with O.Z Racing in very fine and neat lettering. Another triumph for Autoart.
Score: 9/10
Brakes
The brake discs are dark grey colour to replicate the carbon used on this car. The matt finish used is convincing, and the discs are also partially drilled. More impressive is the metallic looking detailing around the inside of the discs, which once again is finely done. Calipers are also excellent, in a silver semi-metallic finish which looks very realistic, and they are also labelled with the same standard of lettering. It goes without saying that the discs turn independently of the calipers.
Score: 8/10
In conclusion, this model is simply superb in the areas that it has been assessed. Every detail that you can see has been wonderfully replicated, and while it will always be a pity that it could have been an even better model, if you accept it for what it is you will definitely not be disappointed. This model will look fantastic in anyone's collection.
Overall Score: 8.8/10
Adjusted Overall Score (including scores of 0 in engine and interior categories): 6.3