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Bentley Confirms Dyson, Leitzinger for PWC Program

Chris Dyson, Butch Leitzinger confirmed in pair of Bentleys for PWC…

Photo: Bentley Team Dyson Racing

Photo: Bentley Team Dyson Racing

Bentley Team Dyson Racing has formalized and confirmed its program for the Pirelli World Challenge season, with Butch Leitzinger and Chris Dyson set to be in the pair of Bentley Continental GT3s.

Leitzinger will be with Dyson Racing for his 21st season, and Dyson will return to the cockpit full-time after a year-plus hiatus.

The team also shifts numbers to its traditional Nos. 16 and 20, with Dyson in the 16 and Leitzinger in the 20, after the team ran 08 and 88 last year.

Bentley looks to build on its success from the partial 2014 season, where Leitzinger scored two podiums and Guy Smith took the marque’s first U.S. win at the penultimate race of the season at Miller Motorsports Park.

“Our goal last season was to assess the car, the series and the competition,” said Rob Dyson, Dyson Racing founder and CEO.

“It was clear from our first race weekend at Elkhart Lake, where Butch Leitzinger set the second-fastest lap in each race, that the car was good, the competition was keen, the races were hard-fought, and the series was very well run.”

Both drivers have tested at Sebring this winter, with Chris Dyson praising the car’s downforce.

“I was very pleased with how much downforce the Bentley makes, particularly in high-speed corners,” Chris Dyson said.

“GT3 cars are quite physical to drive, so I’ve been doing the same training I would do if I were driving an LMP (Le Mans Prototype) car.”

Rob Dyson also said the team had worked closely with Bentley Motorsport and technical partner M-Sport to better develop the car for the standing starts.

“This is the only series that the Continental GT3 competes in where the race starts with all the cars standing still on the grid,” he said. “So in 2014, it’s not surprising our competitors’ had more thoroughly developed launch-control software.

“We were strong in qualifying, but we were getting out-raced to the first corner and with a race that lasts just 40 to 50 minutes and often on tracks where it’s tough to pass, that’s a not insignificant handicap.”

Tony DiZinno (@tonydizinno) is Sportscar365's North American Editor, focusing on coverage of the IMSA-sanctioned championships as well as Pirelli World Challenge. DiZinno also contributes to NBCSports.com and other motorsports outlets. Contact Tony

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