So, Bentley will return to racing! That’s the company’s big surprise for the upcoming Paris Salon - and it will show off this dramatic and mean-looking GT3 coupe based on the Bentley Continental GT Speed coupe.
It looks fantastic, and with the money and might of the VW Group behind it, I’m sure it will appear at its first race full of winning potential.
My good friend, Brian Gush, who is Bentley Motors’ Head of Chassis, Powertrain and Motorsport will lead the group behind the racing project - and if anyone can deliver results it will be Brian. He is what I would describe as a pragmatic perfectionist!
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| Brian Gush |
He was the man leading the thrilling 1-2 finish for Bentley at the 2003 Vingt Quatre Heures du Mans.
However, my tip would be to carry out the track development away from prying eyes, and I reckon Bentley should use Volkswagen Group’s high security test track at Ehra-Lessien in Germany for the car’s shakedown trials - so that when it appears in public, it’s a proven performer.
The PR problem with test and racing development, and practice, being held on public racetracks (even if you’ve hired them exclusively) is that your problems and challenges are always on public view. Better to prepare in secret and then when the covers come off, it’s a screamer!
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| Ehra-Lessien - The main straight is 9km long! |
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| The Bentley Boys - Le Mans 1929 |
Bentley won the famous 24 hour endurance classic five times in the 1920s and 30s and again in 2003, so the marque has a huge reputation to live up to. It’s important not to blow it!
Go Brian! Go Bentley!
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