Plans for ‘affordable’ one-make Bentley series unveiled
The Bentley Drivers Club plans an affordable one-make racing series for modified Continental GTs on UK grids next year, with M-Sport conversions priced at £100,000. Ten orders are needed to proceed.
The words ‘Bentley’ and ‘affordable’ are seldom seen together – but a new one-make series might not break the bank
A one-make racing series for Bentley Continental GTs could line up on UK grids next year, if a proposed concept gains enough uptake.
The Bentley Drivers Club revealed the plan it has pitched as “affordable” at its annual Silverstone race meeting in July. It has quoted £100,000 inc VAT as the total price of a conversion to race spec, including the cost of a donor car.
The road-legal racers will be produced by M-Sport, which built the successful Continental GT3 launched in 2013. The new version will be based on a 2010 Continental GT Speed chassis, with a spec that includes lowered suspension, modified front cambers, a bespoke race exhaust, front/rear brake cooling ducts and a standard ECU unit.
It will run on bespoke 20in OZ M-Sport race wheels with Pirelli P Zero Trofeo RS tyres, with a stripped cabin that includes Sparco race seat, harness and an FIA-standard fire suppression system.
Ben Eastick, BDC competitions captain and regular historics racer, is the driving force behind the plan. “The BDC is renowned for its vintage-car racing, but unveiling an affordable 21st century Continental GT for competition purposes allows us to offer something contemporary and brings Bentley to a new range of competitors. It doesn’t require a team of mechanics or computers to run the car, but it does reflect the sporting origins of the Continental GT3 Mk I.”
Eastick added that Bentley is not officially backing the project, but has given “valuable guidance and support”. A minimum of 10 orders are needed to make the series viable.
Chevron to make racing comeback in TOCA Junior series
The Chevron name will return to contemporary motor sport next year with the launch of the new TOCA Junior series for 14 to 17-year-olds. A company run by Dave Beecroft that is using the name is building a bespoke hatchback for the British Touring Car Championship support series. The B1417, left, features a spaceframe chassis powered by a 1.8-litre four-cylinder engine. Chevron was one of Britain’s leading racing car constructors between 1965 and ’78, until founder Derek Bennett was killed in a hang-gliding accident.