December debut for Bentley GT3 racer

THE CONTINENTAL GT3 racing car will make its competitive debut at December’s Gulf 12 Hours race in Abu Dhabi, it has been confirmed.

The 600bhp, twin-turbo V8 racer is the first Bentley model to hit the race track since 2003, when the Crewe-based outfit won the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

This time Bentley will, officially at least, only use the two-part endurance race as a test to gauge the performance of the Continental GT3 ahead of a full entry into the 2014 FIA Blancpain GT3 racing championship.

At that point the new car will really test its mettle alongside class equivalent racing cars from McLaren, Ferrari, Nissan and Porsche, among others.

Bentley’s Director of Motorsport, Brian Gush, said: “The car has performed extremely well so far, and has matched or exceeded our simulations in every respect.

“With 3000km of testing completed already, the team is very pleased with progress and we’re gaining confidence in our package. We’re all looking forward to the Gulf 12 Hours in December and can’t wait to run the car against the competition for the first time in its first test race.”

Using a remarkable programme of weight-loss, the normally 2.3-tonne Continental GT V8 has been stripped down to “less than 1,300kg” according to Bentley.

Modifications to the road-going 4.0-litre V8 engine include a conversion to dry-sump lubrication and a Cosworth engine management system. It produces around 600bhp, but can be restricted to meet various specification limits at need.

The Gulf 12 Hours race at the Yas Marina circuit in Abu Dhabi will take place on December 13.

By Press Association reporter