Bentley design director receives award
January 17, 2008 by Karl Peskett
Dirk van Braeckel, director of design at Bentley Motors, has been awarded the prestigious European Automotive Design Award by Designers.
Responsible for the Continental GT, van Braeckel has overseen the release of models that have turned Bentley around financially. The subsequent launches of the Continental Flying Spur, Continental GTC, new Arnarge, and now the GT Speed and Brooklands coupe, have all contributed to the firm footing that the marque has.
The award means that Dirkvan Braeckel now sits alongside such names as Giorgietto Giugiaro, who was awarded in 2004, and Sergio Pininfarina in 2006.
Said van Braeckel, “As a young designer I admired the work of Bertone, Gandini and Pininfarina, so it’s an honour to follow in such famous footsteps. My vision for Bentley was to create the ultimate in desirability – a classic of the future. This award is an endorsement of that vision.”
The award ceremony takes place today, at the Brussels Exhibition Centre in Belgium.
Print it: 
Beautiful car.
I’d like to afford one one day.
Well deserved gong.
Not bad for a bloke who started as an apprentice with Ford.
^He would have been an apprentice at Ford of Europe, a very different animal to Ford of Australia.
Whilst I like these I’d never have one as here they are mostly driven by Premiership Footballers here. How sad is that.
Stunning No Name……….re the Football Players……Rolls Royce once said you are not allowed to change the colour of their cars didn’t they? Maybe Bentley should ban the sale to Football players!!!hahaha I guess that would be like having a no bogan sale policy at HSV and FPV!
One thing for sure is though……… the award was well deserved even though I imagine the driver may never have to clean those wheels himself……..