Here’s how Bentley brought speed and durability to Pikes Peak
The Pikes Peak International Hill Climb has performed the most outrageous, fire-spitting sports car scene over the years. It is definitely a grueling ordeal for the car and the driver. Bentley brought a sense of environmental sustainability to the event with its Continental GT3 Pikes Peak, unlike the standard, this car does not run on an electric motor, but on sustainable fuel.
Pikes Peak 2021 – Tricky conditions
The weather conditions were not favorable, so it was decided to truncate the race, instead of ending at the top of 14,115 feet, the event ended at 12,780 feet so that Bentley could not beat the record they were aiming for, however, the efficiency of the car can be gauged based on the competition it faced that day. It has proven to be the fastest renewable fuel car, outperforming even electric cars, which is a feat in itself given that electric motors aren’t plagued by the high altitude air density problem. that are internal combustion engine cars, so they produce energy all the way through. on top of the mountain.
Although they were ahead of the closest rival by 12 seconds in the last sector, a few corners before the finish line, the car suffered a boost pressure which lost 16 seconds, taking them back to 2nd place in the class. Time Attack 1 and 4th overall.
Bentley Motorsport Director Paul Williams remarks:
“We realize we had the speed today both to win our class and to break the record for Time Attack 1. The climate, unfortunately, was not with us, however, with the course cut short meaning our attack over the record has never been possible. While that’s hard to accept, I’m happy to have entered such a strong, sustainably-fueled race car – the fastest in the event – and just as happy for the group that made this possible. This is the first stop on Bentley’s sustainable fuel journey, and there will be plenty of opportunities ahead. Maybe we’ll even return to Pikes Peak in a year … ”
Bentley Entrance – The Continental GT3 Pikes Peak
This car was based on the Continental GT3 circuit racer, with aerodynamic and mechanical modifications. The V8 engine produces 750 hp and 738 ft-lbs of torque. It runs on biofuel and produces 2.2 bars of boost thanks to its twin-turbo configuration. To handle the boost, Bentley reinforced the internal engine components and used thicker carbon fiber for the intake. The exterior has also undergone major changes, the rear spoiler is the largest ever fitted on a Bentley, combined with a large diffuser and aggressive front splitter, it produces 30% more downforce than the standard GT3. It was developed in collaboration between Bentley, Fastr, Roger Clark Motorsport, M-Sport and Rhys Millen Racing. Former Mountain King Rhys Millen was the man at the helm and posted a stunning time of 6: 36.281. Bentley has said the Continental GT3 Pikes Peak is its first sustainable fuel racing car, but it certainly won’t be its last.
The recent history of Bentley at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb
Bentley is no stranger to world-famous hillclimbing, they don’t just seem to be participating either, their entries almost always come close to the front of the field. They entered a specially tuned Bentayga which won the production SUV record and a Continental GT which won the production class record. The latest entry we are discussing here is their first presentation of renewable fuel technology on the mountain and they are committed to showing more developments in this area which is so important to car fans around the world. Although a record breaking treble would have been what Bentley wanted, unfortunately due to the race interruption a record attempt was not possible.
Beyond 100 Strategy – Bentley’s Goals for the Future
The brand has refocused the focus of its Motorsport division on the sustainability of its projects, in order to stay aligned with the brand’s values in implementing Bentley’s Beyond 100 vision for the future of the company. Although the company is currently one of the leaders in the luxury car industry, it aims to become “the world’s leading sustainable luxury mobility company” and projects like this will help it achieve that goal. We can think of the Bentley Continental GT3 Pikes Peak as a one-lap pony, and maybe it’s designed to some extent to climb a Colorado hill as fast as it can get, but the fallout is immeasurable. The effect of engineering know-how, the breakthroughs that have occurred as a result of this project will benefit not only Bentley road cars, but possibly the entire Volkswagen Audi Group as they share common platforms. This could have a big impact on reducing emissions on the global stage, with the VAG Group being one of the largest car manufacturers in the world.
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