New Bentley Continental GT3 to Make Customer Debut

Photo: Bentley Team Phoenix Racing Asia

Phoenix Racing Asia has been announced as the first customer team to run Bentley’s new-generation Continental GT3 racer.

The Hong Kong-based outfit will take delivery of two cars in August in preparation for their race debut in the Blancpain GT Series Asia round at Shanghai on Sept. 22-23.

The new-for-2018 Bentley made its global bow in the Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup earlier this year but has yet to race in another championship.

Team personnel will join the factory M-Sport squad for the upcoming Intercontinental GT Challenge event at Suzuka to learn more about the package before its delivery and initial testing.

The team has yet to confirm which class the two cars will appear in.

“Having a leading team represent us in Blancpain GT Series Asia was extremely important to us,” said Nick Burns, head of Bentley Motorsport operations.

“It’s an incredibly tough series but we believe Phoenix Racing Asia has what it takes to win races.

“We are already engaged with the team and we’re looking forward to welcoming them to Suzuka for the 10-hour race – we believe that close co-operation is key to global success.”

Phoenix Asia team owner and driver Marchy Lee said that the deal was a “perfect partnership” for his team, which has campaigned Audi R8 LMS GT3s in the past.

The outfit ran a pair of Audi R8 LMS GT3s in Blancpain Asia last season, with Lee and Shaun Tong going on to win the Silver Cup title.

It plans to enter its current Audi into the next round at Fuji before it switches to the 4.0-liter V8 Bentley for the final two races at Shanghai and Ningbo.

“I feel very proud that a manufacturer as prestigious as Bentley has chosen a young team like Phoenix Racing Asia as an official partner,” said Lee.

“They clearly see a lot of potential in us, but hopefully also the same attributes that characterize their brand.

“We aim to be the very best at everything we do as a race team, and – having been shown behind the scenes at Bentley earlier this week – I think that’s definitely something we both share.”