Bentley Reveals New Continental GT3

Photo: Bentley

Bentley has revealed its new Continental GT3, which will compete in the Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup and Intercontinental GT Challenge next year.

The car is the second-generation of the Continental GT3 that Bentley Team M-Sport won the Blancpain GT Endurance Cup teams’ title with this season.

The outgoing car has scored 120 podiums and 45 wins in various GT3 series across the world.

“After four years of success with our Continental GT3, we’re excited to reveal our second-generation car,” said Bentley Motorsport Director Brian Gush.

“The new car leaves no area or system untouched in the search for even better performance, and the early test results are promising.

“The new Continental GT road car has proved to be a great starting point for the development of a new racer, and the engineering development work is true to Bentley’s impeccable standards.”

The GT3 car is based on the new Continental GT road car and uses its mostly aluminum structure along with a new development of the manufacturer’s four-liter twin-turbo V8 engine.

The powerplant features a new dry sump system and intake and exhaust systems, and is capable of producing more than 550 bhp before Balance of Performance restrictions.

It has already started a six-month test program in the UK, France and Portugal, while it is set to complete 24-hour endurance race simulations soon.

The car will be made available to customers in June. 

2018 Plans Confirmed

Bentley Team M-Sport has also confirmed its 2018 race plans with two new Continental GT3s set to take on the Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup and Intercontinental GT Challenge.

It’s understood that the manufacturer has decided against fielding entries in the Sprint Cup.

With the IGTC season-opening Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour running to previous-year GT3 homologations, the new car will make its competition debut in the Endurance Cup season-opener at Monza in April, with the team set to run its current-generation model in Australia.

The team is yet to announce its 2018 driver lineup.

Photo: Bentley

Photo: Bentley

Jake Kilshaw

Jake Kilshaw is a UK-based journalist. He is a graduate of Politics and International Relations.