Bentley Motors
Press Release
www.bentleymedia.com
@BentleyMotorsPR
BENTLEY REVEALS CONTINENTAL GT3 DETAILS AT GLOBAL DEBUT
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Continental GT3 unveiled at the Goodwood Festival of Speed
600 bhp 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 for 1300 kg racer
GT3 to drive the Goodwood hill-climb twice a day
(Crewe / Goodwood, 12th July 2013) Bentley debuts its new Continental GT3 race car at the
2013 Goodwood Festival of Speed today, unveiling a racing machine set to explore the extreme
potential of Bentley’s iconic Grand Tourer, the Continental GT. Member of the Board for
Engineering, Rolf Frech, comments: “The Continental GT3 exploits the incredible performance
beneath the skin of every Continental GT. We’ve removed over 1000 kilograms of weight,
reconfigured our 4.0-litre V8 to produce 600 bhp in race specification, and developed a
comprehensive aerodynamic package to ensure that we perform competitively. We are now looking
forward to getting the car on the track and proving its potential.”
The Continental GT3 is powered by a race-prepared and dry-sump version of Bentley’s powerful
but efficient 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8, with many components carried over from the road-going
engine. Developing up to 600 bhp in unrestricted race configuration via a motorsport engine
management system, the V8 provides the GT3 with highly competitive power in a compact and
lightweight package that’s perfect for racing. Power is transmitted to the rear wheels via a carbon
fibre propshaft to an Xtrac six-speed sequential gearbox with a limited slip differential, mounted as a
transaxle for optimised weight distribution. Gear actuations are completed via a pneumatic shift
system, controlled by paddles mounted to the steering wheel.
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 powerassistance, 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, to maximise downforce
with optimised drag. A top-mounted carbon fibre rear wing provides rear downforce and stability,
while a carbon fibre splitter balances the aerodynamic forces at the front of the car. 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.
With the removal of the leather and wood interior trim, the production electrical systems and
advanced refinement materials that make the Continental GT such a capable Grand Tourer, the
Continental GT3 weighs in under its target of 1300 kg. Despite the race-specification, the GT3
remains a hand-crafted Bentley, with the steering wheel, door pulls and seat all hand-trimmed and
stitched by Bentley craftspeople at Crewe.
The design has been completed by a specialist team of engineers from Bentley Motors supported by
the Continental GT3 Technical Partner, M-Sport Ltd1. Managed from a dedicated motorsport facility
base at Bentley’s Crewe factory, an additional design office was created at M-Sport for the detail
design stages and build of the first car.
The Continental GT3 now 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 makes its official running debut on the famous Goodwood Festival of Speed
Hillclimb from Friday 12th July until Sunday 14th, piloted twice a day by Bentley Boy and 2003 Le
Mans champion, Guy Smith. The car will also be on display in the F1 paddock, while the original
Continental GT3 Concept Racer, unveiled at the Paris Auto Salon last September, can be seen inside
the Bentley stand in the main paddock.
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, Mobil 1TM synthetic motor oil2
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
ENDS
For further information about this press release please contact:
Andrea Baker – Head of Media Relations
Andrea.Baker@bentley.co.uk + 44 (0) 1270 536 430
Mike Sayer – Product Public Relations Manager
Mike.Sayer@bentley.co.uk +44 (0) 1270 535 133
For further information on Bentley please go to www.bentleymedia.com
Twitter – @BentleyMotorsPR
You Tube – www.youtube.com/bentleymotors
Notes to editors
1.
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 MSport’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.
2.
The Continental GT3 project is proud to be working with ExxonMobil, who have joined the
team as a key sponsor. Bentley engineers carefully selected every component involved with the
race program, and the choice of motor oil was no exception. With proven success in
motorsports and a track record of helping bring home championships, Mobil 1 was an obvious
choice. The race-configured version of Bentley’s 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 engine will be filled with
Mobil 1™ synthetic motor oil, to ensure maximum engine protection and performance in the
gruelling environment of endurance racing.
3.
Bentley Motors employs around 4,000 people in Crewe which is home to all its operations
including design, R&D, engineering and production. The combination of fine craftsmanship, using
skills that have been handed down through generations, alongside engineering expertise and
cutting-edge technology is unique to UK luxury vehicle manufacturers such as Bentley. It is also
an example of high-value British manufacturing at its best. Bentley exports over £1bn worth of
goods in 2012. The company is the third largest R&D investor in the UK's automotive sector
and the 18th largest nationally.