Bentley has built a rally-spec Continental GT to complete at the GP Ice Race in Zell am See, Austria, this weekend. The radical grand tourer is strictly a one-off model, created to celebrate the company’s ice speed records that the company set with specially-developed Continental GTs in 2007 and 2011.
The British marque’s ice racer is based on the W12-engined Continental GT, albeit with some light upgrades to strengthen the bodywork. For instance, the wheel arches have bolt-on cladding to accommodate the 15mm increase in track width, while the ride height has been increased to improve ground clearance.
The roof gets a bespoke rack that mounts four high performance lamps from lighting firm Lazer and a set of Bentley Centenary Edition skis. There’s also a new Akrapovic exhaust system, finished in bronze and embossed with the Ice GT logo. A striking blue and white livery, inspired by the Bentayga that set the SUV record at the Pikes Peak hillclimb last year, completes the rugged look.
The rest of the car is standard, meaning the ice racer boasts 626 bhp and 900Nm of torque from a twin-turbo 6.0-litre W12 engine. It also retains the same 48-volt anti-roll system and iron brakes as the standard car. The cabin is just as luxurious as regular Continental GT, too, though a roll cage and bucket seats have been installed on safety grounds.
Piloting the souped-up Continental GT will be British rally ace Catie Munnings. She said: “I spent some time on ice in the car just before Christmas. At first I thought it would feel heavy, but I was amazed by how dynamic, nimble and responsive it is. It can dance like a lightweight rally car, and I can’t wait to race it at such an iconic event.”
Keyword: Bentley builds radical Continental GT W12 for ice racing