New brace of Bathurst Bentleys celebrates 2020 12-Hour win ahead of 2023's race
By Matt Bird / Monday, 23 January 2023 / Loading comments
The Bentley Continental GT race car always sounded like something from the murkier parts of Reader’s Cars; yet despite what seemed like patently unsuitable foundations, the Continental GT3, across two generations now, has proved itself a remarkably adept race car. And not just because nobody can get past.
One of the GT3’s most memorable wins was at the Bathurst 12-Hour in 2020, when the #7 car of Jules Gounon, Jordan Pepper and Maxime Soulet took victory after starting 11th. It was in the lead for seven of the 12 hours, and set a record race distance of 314 laps. So if ever there was a motorsport triumph to celebrate, the 2020 Bathurst 12-Hour was it, especially with the 2023 event less than two weeks away.
Both of these new Continental GT V8 S models are inspired by the winning car. Bentley says the S ‘shares a number of characteristics with its track-based counterpart, thereby providing the perfect foundation for the pair of specially commissioned road cars’. They aren’t exactly stripped-out road racers, and are mechanically identical to the 550hp standard car, but they do look quite cool.
The Apple Green car gets ‘7’ painted on the grille – like the race car, not like a Caterham – as well as a contrast Beluga black roof, bumper and mirrors. In fact, a Blackline Specification and Styling Specification means plenty of the bodywork is black or carbon, offering a ‘more aggressive visual stance’. The second GT S is Silver Tempest, also with the Styling Specification and numbered grilles. Both cars get a 1:18 model of the winning car as well as ‘commemorative framed artefact’.
Naturally, the interior has been tweaked as well. Both Continentals get ‘Bathurst’ stitched into the headrests, ‘One of Two’ on the treadplates, a metal outline of the track on the passenger side and even the drivers’ names on the dash. The green car gets contrast stitching in the same colour as outside.
This new pair of cars has been created by Mulliner and Bentley Sydney, following a record year for the former in 2022 with more than 500 commissions. So don’t be surprised if further one-off builds follow in the next 12 months. How about Oulton Park next? Bentley’s local circuit, and another winning track for the GT3…
- 2022 Bentley Bentayga V8 S | PH Review
- Bentley Continental GT Speed vs Porsche 911 Turbo S
Source: Read Full Article