Bentley marks centenary with Mille Miglia run

In 1930 the legendary Bentley Blower was due to become the first British car to compete in the Mille Miglia race. Despite the best efforts of 'Bentley Boys' Sir Henry 'Tim' Birkin and then-CEO Woolf Barnato, this attempt was aborted prior to the race commencing as the gentlemen felt there was a lack of preparation to complete a successful run.

Birkin and Barnato were to be the first British drivers to attempt the thousand-mile Italian test of endurance, in a supercharged Bentley Blower known as the No. 2 Birkin Blower. Nine decades later, Bentley is returning to the historic race to finish what the Bentley Boys didn’t.

This year, two original 1930 4.5-litre supercharged Blowers (the Birkin Blower UU5872 and the Demonstrator GH6951) are aiming to finish what the Bentley Boys didn't, taking on the world-renowned cross-country route between 15 and 18 May. The Blowers will be driven by Bentley's Director of Motorsport, Brian Gush, and Head of Royal and VIP Relations, Robin Peel. They will be closely followed by a Bentayga, which will every moment of this landmark occasion.