In just a few days, it will compete in the GP Ice Race in Austria.
The Bentley Continental GT does not qualify as a race car. This fancy coupe is more comfortable on the Autobahn than carving up any track. This one is different. The Conti is specially prepared for the second-annual GP Ice Race Austria.
The updates to this Continental are mostly superficial. The Continental is dressed in a black-and-baby blue Pikes Peak inspired livery. It also has a bespoke Bentley ski rack with branded Bomber For Bentley Centenary Edition skis. A large LED light bar can be found on the roof and studded Pirelli Scorpion tires for grip. The factory twin-turbocharged W12 6.0-liter engine, which produces 626 horsepower (467 Kilowatts) as well as 664 pound-feet (901 Newton-meters) in torque, is still available.
The factory motor should still be sufficient in these conditions. In just 3.6 seconds, the Continental GT can reach 60 mph (96 km/h) and then continue to top speed at 207 mph (321 kmh). We won’t see any other speeds at this event. Mechanically, the only changes are in the exhaust. An aftermarket Akrapovic kit gives the Conti GT a more pronounced sound and raises the ride height. Bentley raised the car by 0.6 inches (15 m) to deal with the snow. Bentley installed a rear roll cage and an on-board fire suppression system. He also fitted racing seats and harnesses.
Junior World Rally Championship driver Catie Munnings will take the wheel of the Continental GT as it hits the ice. She is also the daughter of a former rally driver. Munnings holds a FIA European Rally Championship Ladies Trophy and was even host of “Catie’s Amazing Machines” in the U.K.
“I couldn’t pass up the chance to race with Bentley at Zell Am See. The car is amazing and I can’t believe that I will be able to race in a Bentley for an ice race. Just before Christmas, I spent some time on the ice with the car. It felt heavy at first, but it was so responsive, agile, and dynamic that I didn’t expect it to feel this weight. It can move like a light rally car and I cannot wait to race it at this iconic event.”
The second-annual GP Ice Race will be held in Austria, starting on February 2. The 1,960-foot (600 meter) frozen track is used for the race. It features two events: Standard Racing and an Exhibition of Skijoring, in which the car takes on the track with a skier behind.