Bentley is set to return to Pikes Peak, one of its favorite venues for high-performance racing, this time bringing an exceptionally modified version of the Continental GT3. Collaborating with customer motorsport teams M-Sport and Fastr, Bentley has transformed the Continental GT, which already holds the production car record for the Pikes Peak ascent, into a formidable competitor aiming to secure the Time Attack 1 record.
This new car, aptly named the Continental GT3 Pikes Peak, is much more than just a vehicle—it’s also the inaugural project of Bentley’s Beyond 100 initiative. Designed to operate on sustainable fuel, the car aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from its engine by as much as 85 percent, according to Bentley.
While the GT3 Pikes Peak is built on the Continental GT3 framework, it has undergone significant modifications to tackle the challenges of the Pikes Peak course. The Time Attack 1 category allows vehicles with production roots to undergo extensive modifications to maximize their speed on the track. Last year, David Donner set the record in a 2019 Porsche 911 GT2, completing the 12.42-mile course in just 9 minutes and 36.559 seconds—a time Bentley is targeting with its new model.
Matthias Rabe, Bentley’s engineering board member, expressed excitement about returning to Pikes Peak for the third time, emphasizing the project’s focus on developing renewable fuel as part of the Beyond 100 program. “We are thrilled to be launching this initiative at Pikes Peak,” he stated.
Rabe also mentioned that Bentley’s powertrain engineers are actively exploring biofuels and e-fuels, aligning this venture with their broader electrification strategy. The company is taking steps to incorporate renewable fuels at its Crewe factory and for its corporate fleet as well. “The Continental GT3 Pikes Peak will showcase how renewable fuels can support motorsport in an environmentally responsible manner, and we hope to achieve the third and final record in our triple crown,” he added.
Interest in biofuels is growing in the motorsport community, particularly with Formula 1 experimenting with these alternatives. Furthermore, Porsche is advocating for e-fuels as a sustainable option, with their new Carrera Cup vehicle designed to use these fuels. The hill climb events present a relatively unrestricted environment to test different performance adaptations compared to Bentley’s other racing activities in endurance series.
The Continental GT3 Pikes Peak will make its run on June 27, with experienced driver Rhys Millen behind the wheel..
