The Bentley Continental GT3 – Bentley’s racing Continental – was revealed at Paris 2012, but now we have official details and specs.
The Bentley Continental GT3 (pictured) is at Goodwood this weekend
We actually had the reveal of the Bentley Continental GT3 at the Paris Motor Show last year, but at the time details and specifications were a bit thin on the ground, and Bentley were calling it a ‘Concept’.
But now, with the Continental GT3 strutting its stuff at the Goodwood Festival of Speed and ready to play, Bentley has seen fit to tell us how much power the GT3 has, and how much weight it’s shed.
Remarkably, the Continental GT3’s weight is a substantial 100kg less than the road-going GT, weighing it at an almost lightweight 1300kg.
Under the bonnet is a dry sump version of the GT V8’s 4.0 litre twin turbo, but this one gets a Cosworth brain and delivers up to 600bhp – 100bhp more than the road-going GT.
The 4WD setup has been ditched in favour of a RWD one, with power fed to the back wheels through a six-speed sequential ‘box from Xtrac and Bentley has fitted double wishbones in place of the air suspension.
Aerodynamics are aided by a comprehensive package to aid downforce and reduce drag with a top-mounted carbon fibre rear wing for downforce and stability and a carbon fibre splitter to balance the air hitting the front.
There are also changes to the bonnet, bumpers, sills and wings to help cooling and reduce drag.
Inside, Bentley has stripped out most of the luxuries but has left hand-trimmed steering wheel, door pulls and seat – just because this is a Bentley.
The Continental GT3 will be off on a programme of development and track work once its finished playing at Goodwood this weekend, aiming for FIA homologation so it can take part in the FIA Blancpain Series in 2014.
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