Bentley’s latest high-performance coupé, internally dubbed “Mildred,” honors a remarkable figure from early motorsport history: Mildred Petre Bruce, a driver whose exploits defied convention and established new standards for endurance in the 1920s. The car, a 675bhp rear-wheel-drive machine wrapped in carbon fiber, takes its name not from a fictional character but from a woman who blazed a trail through some of the most grueling automotive challenges of her time.
From Aristocratic Childhood to Motorsport Legend
Born in 1895, Mildred Petre married Victor Bruce, a test driver for AC Cars in 1926. She wasn’t merely a passenger; having grown up with motorbikes and cars, she immediately joined her husband’s racing pursuits. Records show she was a skilled driver, accumulating a series of speeding convictions that underscore her fearless approach to high-speed motoring.
Breaking Barriers in the Monte Carlo Rally
The couple’s most audacious feat came in 1927 when they entered the Monte Carlo Rally, starting from John O’Groats – a brutal northern starting point. Their AC Six tourer finished sixth overall, earning Mildred the Coupe des Dames, an award for women drivers. This wasn’t just a race; it was the beginning of an epic journey.
Endurance Runs Across Continents
Rather than rest, the Bruces continued south, driving through Italy, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, Spain, Portugal, and France before tackling the Montlhéry banked track. There, they averaged 50mph over 1,000 miles, setting a new standard for endurance. Advertising at the time called this feat “a test at which many of the so-called ‘sterner sex’ might hesitate.” Autocar agreed, hailing it as “the greatest drive by a woman” yet.
Pushing the Limits: The Arctic Circle
Mildred and Victor didn’t stop there. In an era when most cars struggled on paved roads, they drove their AC Six as far north as possible, even pushing through three kilometers of swamp to achieve a record-breaking northern penetration. As Mildred herself wrote, they had “penetrated further north than any car had ever been before.”
A Lasting Legacy
Mildred’s achievements didn’t go unnoticed. She became Autocar ‘s regular motoring writer for women, and the couple capped off their year with a 15,000-mile non-stop record run at Montlhéry, beating the previous record by nearly two full days. Despite a mid-run rollover, they persevered, cementing their place in automotive history.
“British pluck and a British car rouse the enthusiasm of the French,” declared Autocar, highlighting the couple’s resilience against rain, fog, cold, and even a crash.
Bentley’s decision to name its latest performance car after Mildred Bruce is fitting. She was a pioneering spirit who redefined what was possible behind the wheel, pushing boundaries and challenging expectations in an era when women were often excluded from motorsport.
