Bentley Reveals New Continental GT3 Race Car

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Bentley Reveals New Continental GT3 Race Car

Bentley Reveals New Continental GT3 Race Car

Bentley Motorsport is unveiling an all-new Continental GT3 racecar, currently in development for the 2018 motorsport season.

The second-generation Continental GT3 is the latest dedicated racecar in an acclaimed Bentley motorsport lineage that includes the 4½ Litre, Speed Six and Speed 8 Le Mans winners. The first-generation Continental GT3 has proven to be a championship-winning endurance racer, scoring 120 podiums and 45 wins across 528 races around the world to date.

Bentley’s Director of Motorsport, Brian Gush comments:

“After four years of success with our Continental GT3, we’re excited to reveal our second-generation car. The new car leaves no area or system untouched in the search for even better performance, and the early test results are promising. The new Continental GT road car has proved to be a great starting point for the development of a new racer, and the engineering development work is true to Bentley’s impeccable standards.”

The New Continental GT3

Development of the new car has been led by the engineers of Bentley Motorsport’s in-house team based in Crewe, together with designers and technicians at Bentley’s motorsport technical partner, M-Sport.

The new Continental GT3 has been designed from the all-new Continental GT road car, utilising it’s mostly aluminium structure as the foundation to deliver a race-ready weight of significantly less than 1300 kg and helping to deliver an ideal weight distribution for racing.

The engine is a new development of the renowned and race-proven 4.0-litre Bentley twin-turbo V8, with a totally redesigned dry sump system and all-new intake and exhaust systems. Unrestricted power is in excess of 550 bhp.

Exterior aerodynamic surfaces have been crafted in the wind tunnel and are based on the shape of the road car, enhancing the muscular exterior panels with aerodynamic devices for additional downforce. Suspension and braking systems are new and bespoke to the Continental GT3.

The all-new racecar has already started a six-month test programme to pick up the mantle from its championship-winning predecessor, completing test work in the UK, France and Portugal. Upcoming development work includes full 24 hour endurance race simulations.

Bentley Motorsport 2018

Bentley Motorsport is also announcing its plans for the 2018 season, after 2017 proved to be the most successful season for the team, capturing the Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup. Bentley Motorsport will run a pair of new Continental GT3 racers across Europe in the Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup again next year, and also compete around the world in the four-round Intercontinental GT Challenge.

The new Continental GT3 will make its race debut at the opening round of the 2018 Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup at Monza. Updates from the development programme of the new racer, and confirmation of the 2018 driver line-up, will be issued by Bentley Motorsport in due course.

courtesy: www.bentleymedia.com

Bentley Wins Blancpain Gt Series Endurance Title

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Bentley Wins Blancpain Gt Series Endurance Title

Bentley Wins Blancpain Gt Series Endurance Title

Bentley Motorsport has won the Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup with Bentley Team M-Sport at a rollercoaster final round in Barcelona.

The team entered the championship finale as Endurance Cup leaders with a 16-point advantage over its nearest rival, thanks to a win at the Paul Ricard 1000 km and a second place finish in the prestigous 24 Hours of Spa.

Bentley’s Director of Motorsport, Brian Gush, comments: “Securing the Endurance Cup Teams title is testament to the hard work that every single member of Bentley Motorsport and Bentley Team M-Sport has put in to this season. I’m proud of our achievements as a team and we’ll use the energy from this championship win as we start preparations for 2018. We’ll be back next year aiming to go one better and secure the driver’s title too.”

The title-winning weekend was not as easy as the team had hoped it would be. Following a crash in the qualifying session, the #7 Continental GT3 #7 required a full front-end rebuild – but after impeccable teamwork the car started the race at the back of the pack of 49 GT3s. Three hours later it crossed the line in P19 thanks to flawless driving and focused determination from the British trio of Guy Smith, Oliver Jarvis and Steven Kane.

Bentley Wins Blancpain Gt Series Endurance Title

Meanwhile, the #8 Continental GT3 had a tricky qualifying in a disrupted session and started the race from 28th. Carving through the pack, Vince Abril (MC), Andy Soucek (ES) and Maxime Soulet (BE) climbed up into the top-ten, putting them in the effective lead of the Endurance Cup drivers’ title. However, a mechanical failure with 90 minutes to go ended the chance of taking the driver’s title.

However, with 88 points scored from a consistently strong season, Bentley Team M-Sport had done enough to secure the Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup title.

Bentley Motorsport will announce its plans for 2018 shortly, while reflecting on a 2017 season that has seen the Continental GT3 secure two more championships in its fourth year of competition.

courtesy: www.bentleymedia.com