The Continental GT3 Pikes Peak is an aero monster
Bentley has unveiled what might be one of the craziest racing cars it has ever produced. Meet the Continental GT3 Pikes Peak, described by Bentley as “the most extreme road car-based Bentley in its 101-year history”.
A modified version of the marque’s successful GT3 racer, the Pikes Peak has its sights set on the world-famous 12.42-mile course, for the Time Attack 1 record. Former King of the Mountain and tested Hill master at the Goodwood Festival of Speed presented by Mastercard, Rhys Millen, will be behind the wheel.
The quite literal big news is that ridiculous aero treatment. The Continental GT V8 isn’t slight in dimensions, but it positively shrinks under the sheer enormity of that wing, splitter, diffuser and those canards.
The other big news is that this monster Bentley can tackle the mountain with a near-clean conscience. It’ll be running on renewable biofuel-based gasoline, with the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 85 per cent.
“We are delighted to be returning to Pikes Peak for a third time – now powered by renewable fuel”, said Dr Matthias Rabe, Bentley’s Member of the Board for Engineering.
“Our powertrain engineers are already researching both biofuels and e-fuels for use by our customers alongside our electrification programme. In the meantime, the Continental GT3 Pikes Peak will show that renewable fuels can allow motorsport to continue in a responsible way, and hopefully it will capture the third and final record in our triple crown.”
The engine? The gloriously thunderous 4.0-litre twin-turbo from the Continental GT V8, which, thanks to some modifications and the biofuel, still “develops significant horsepower despite the rarefied conditions it will operate in”. More technical details will be released closer to the event.
The car has been developed in conjunction with Bentley GT3 customer team Fastr and M-Sport. Updates on the car’s progress are due in May, before it heads out for the 99th Pikes Peak International Hill Climb on 27th June. Is this the craziest Bentley you’ve ever seen?
Bentley
Pikes Peak
Continental GT
