Pikes Peak Bentley Bentayga REVEALED as it aims for SUV record run

The Bentley Bentayga SUV heading for Pikes Peak this month, to try and take the Pikes Peak record for a production SUV, has been revealed.

Back in January, Bentley declared they were taking the Bentayga for a run at Pikes Peak, aiming to take the record for a production SV in the extremely challenging Hill Climb.

Now, with just a few days to go before a wide selection of machinery tries to tame Pikes Peak, the Bentley Bentayga heading for ‘The Race to the Clouds’ has been revealed. And it’s all pretty standard.

But that’s because Bentley want the Bentayga to be the fastest (and most expensive) production SUV to take on Pikes Peak and win, so regulations dictate just how much Bentley can do to make the Bentayga more suited to the challenge.

That said, the Pikes Peak Bentayga does get a roll cage, fire suppression system and racing seat, a new set of Pirellis, around 300kg of interior removed, an Akropovic sports exhaust and Bentley’s Styling Specification kt which includes a carbon fibre front splitter, diffuser, side skirts and aerodynamic rear spoiler.

But the rest of the Bentayga is stock, but stock for the Bentayga does mean 600bhp and four-wheel drive, 48V electrics and adaptive air suspension, all of which will give the Bentayga more than a fighting chance of grabbing the coveted SUV record.

Brian Gush, Bentley’s Motorsport Director, said:

Our preparation for the event has been extremely thorough, and our Bentley Motorsport race engineers have produced a car that demonstrates the Bentayga’s inherent potential to the full. It’s now up to Rhys to drive the best run possible – but after his performances in testing, we have every confidence in him. The weather is the one factor we can’t control so we’re hoping for a clear Sunday morning.

The Bentayga will be driven up Pikes Peak’s 12.42 miles and 156 corners by Rhys Millen – a man who knows Pikes Peak rather well – this coming Sunday (24 June 2018).