Thursday 26th September 2013

Bentley confirms Conti GT3 race debut

See the Bentley race for the first time at Abu Dhabi in December. Dear Santa...

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The calorie-free beer. The cholesterol-free fry up. A night out with no hangover. The 1,300kg, 600hp, V8 Bentley. All sound equally unfeasible yet brilliant, but only one is a reality. Well, so far anyway...

We've covered the Continental GT3 racer previously, at its launch and during development, but now comes the announcement of its competitive race debut. It will take to the track in anger for the first time at the Gulf 12 Hours in Abu Dhabi on December 13.

Now then Bentley, about a roadgoing version...

Today has also seen the GT3's full spec detailed, and mouth watering reading it makes too. The 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 from the Continental GT S is now up to 600hp and located further back in the engine bay, contributing to a 52:48 front to rear weight distribution.

There's also a carbon propshaft, OZ 18x13-inch wheels, Brembo brakes (six piston front, four piston rear) and an XTrac sequential 'box.

"We're gaining confidence in our package," said Brian Gush, Bentley's Director of Motorsport after the first 3,000km of testing. As you would expect, he's very keen to get the project on track now, adding that Bentley "can't wait to run the car against the competition for the first time."

Speaking of competition, the Continental GT3 is to be entered in a full season of next year's FIA Blancpain Endurance Series under Team M-Sport Bentley. It's a great series, as we discovered at the Spa 24 Hours, and will only improve with Bentley's arrival. Best of British to you gentlemen!

[mrclav]

Mmmm - tasty.

[dlockhart]

I have thought that if this happened porsche would trample this car into the ground. Surely the heavier GT2 series would be more suited to the brand.

good luck to them for going ahead with it all, its all very brave and I hope its exciting

[toppstuff]

Good for them.

Bentley has always been about big, bruising truck-like racecars.

Birkin would want a go in one if he was alive.

[exceed]

It's such a beast, I can't wait to see it smashing some tarmac into submission. Even as a GT3 car it looks soo heavy!

[epom]

That spolier...

[iva cosworth]

Shame it couldn't debut in UK,British GTs.

[mybrainhurts]

Looks a proper tart....

[British Beef]

Surely the Bentley must be one of the least likely bases for a race car - undertaken purely for marketing, but good for it and should be entertaining watching this thing pound a race track!

I think the regulators should reduce the allowable size of rear wings - apart from making all the cars look much better, there would also be more oversteer & overtaking opportunities if the cornering speeds were reduced.

[turbo-ww]

Best of British to you Chaps! *dofscapsmiley*

[Ty Corcoran]

It's bonkers. Can't wait to see it. Lumbering great giant, I presume the only tyre choice is "as hard as you've got"?

[Lordbenny]

Why would anyone want a road going version of that?

[405dogvan]

Hangover's may be a thing of the past quite soon (and you can, of course, have a 'night out' without drinking too!)

http://www.smh.com.au/national/australian-boffins-...

Meanwhile, I read that as 'have a Red Bull chaser"...

[kambites]

doogz said:

I wonder what it weighs.

Astonishingly little, IIRC.

[soad]

doogz said:

I wonder what it weighs.

1,300kg.

[dvs_dave]

kambites said:

Astonishingly little, IIRC.

Well the first paragraph says 1300kg. Why don't people just read things???

[kambites]

dvs_dave said:

kambites said:

Astonishingly little, IIRC.

Well the first paragraph says 1300kg. Why don't people just read things???

So it does.

[Johnspex]

405dogvan said:

Hangover's may be a thing of the past quite soon (and you can, of course, have a 'night out' without drinking too!)

http://www.smh.com.au/national/australian-boffins-...

Meanwhile, I read that as 'have a Red Bull chaser"...

Am I stupid or something? What is this all about? Does it have something to do with the article that I'm missing or is it just complete bks

[Mark Wibble]

I'm sure I'll prefer how it looks when they've finished designing everything aft of the front wings!

Looks damn fine from the front though.

[PompeyM3]

They had one of these at this years Goodwood FoS, looked mega.

Hope there is some TV coverage when they are racing as would love to watch them in action.

[ukmike2000]

In the words of Samuel Johnson "It is like a dog's walking on his hind legs. It is not done well; but you are surprised to find it done at all."