Bentley unveils its new Continental GT3 race car at the 2013 Goodwood Festival of Speed today, showcasing a racing machine set to explore the extreme potential of Bentley’s iconic Grand Tourer, the Continental GT.
Since the world debut of Bentley’s GT3 Concept Racer at the Paris Auto Salon in September 2012, engineers have been developing the Continental GT3 in preparation for the manufacturer's highly anticipated return to the track. Building on a racing heritage spanning ninety years, the Continental GT3 has been created to exploit the performance beneath the skin of every Continental GT. Bentley has removed over 1000kg of weight, reconfigured the 4.0-litre V8 to produce 600 bhp in race specification and developed a comprehensive aero package. Now all that's needed, Bentley says, is to get the car on the track and prove its potential.
The Continental GT3 makes its official running debut today on the famous Goodwood Festival of Speed Hillclimb, piloted twice a day by Bentley Boy and 2003 Le Mans champion, Guy Smith.
The Continental GT3 starts its programme of developmental track work, focussing on optimising the car’s performance based on simulations and refining the car’s abilities. Once homologation with the FIA has been completed, the GT3 will enter its first development races before starting full competition in the FIA Blancpain Series in 2014.
The Continental GT3 is powered by a race-prepared and dry-sump version of Bentley’s 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8, with many components carried over from the road-going engine. A double wishbone suspension configuration front and rear, fitted with four-way adjustable racing dampers, replaces the standard road-car air springs. The steering system features hydraulic power-assistance, while braking is via ventilated iron discs combined with six-piston calipers on the front and four-piston calipers on the rear.
The exterior of the car features a comprehensive aerodynamic package including a top-mounted carbon fibre rear wing and a carbon fibre splitter. Revisions have been made to the bonnet, bumpers, fenders and sills in order to optimise the car’s drag coefficient and to assist with engine cooling.
Naturally, race specification required that the Continental GT3 must sacrifice much of the company's renowned leather and wood interior trim. However, there is still room for that touch of quality and the steering wheel, door pulls and seat all hand-trimmed and stitched by Bentley craftspeople at the factory in Crewe and the Continental GT3 weighs in under its target of 1300kg.
The first GT3 car is being built by the Bentley motorsport team in conjunction with M-Sport. The Bentley GT3 team is led by Bentley Motorsport Chief Designer Graham Humphrys and M-Sport’s Chief Engineer, Christian Loriaux. M-Sport was originally formed in 1979, and in 1994 M-Sport won national rally titles in Italy, Portugal, the Middle East and Britain, the latter with founder Malcolm Wilson himself behind the wheel. Since 1996, M-Sport has run Ford’s WRC campaigns, including winning two FIA World Rally Championships in 2006 and 2007.
Continental GT3 Specifications
Engine: 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8, repositioned to the rear of the engine bay, Cosworth engine management system
Power: Approx. 600 bhp derestricted
Oil System: Dry sump
Transmission: Rear wheel drive, Xtrac six-speed sequential transaxle gearbox, racing clutch, steering wheel mounted paddle operated pneumatic gear shift
Drivetrain: Carbon fibre propshaft, limited slip differential
Suspension: Double wishbone suspension front and rear, four-way adjustable racing dampers
Steering: Hydraulic power-assisted steering
Brakes: Ventilated iron disc brakes front and rear, Brembo six-piston front calipers, four-piston rear calipers, driver-adjustable brake bias
Safety: FIA-specification steel roll cage, Sparco six-point FIA safety harness, onboard fire extinguisher, onboard pneumatic jack system.
Fuel System: FIA-specification racing fuel cell
Electronics: Race-specification ABS and traction control. Lightweight race battery.
Wheels: OZ Racing 18” x 13” rims
Tyres: 310 / 710 R18
Aerodynamics: Carbon fibre front splitter, rear wing and body panels. Lightweight, aerodynamically-optimised bumpers, bonnet, sills and fenders
Length: 4950 mm
Width: 2030 mm
Height: 1350 mm
Weight: <1300 kg
Weight Distribution: 52:48
