Bentley has announced that the Gulf 12 Hours in Abu Dhabi on December 13 will see the competitive debut of the Continental GT3 racer. Much has been made of Bentley’s return to motorsports after a decade away, and the Continental GT3 has been seen on-track at the Goodwood Festival of Speed as well as in testing at various venues.
The company is optimistic about the Continental GT3’s official competition debut. The car is powered by a race-prepped, dry-sump version of the 4.0 liter twin-turbo V8 that powers the road car. The engine has been moved to the back of the engine bay, and produces approximately 600 horsepower. A six-speed sequential transaxle sends the power down a carbon-fiber driveshaft to the rear wheels. The body carries the familiar styling cues of the Continental GT, but this is a fully race-prepared vehicle, up to FIA specifications. And, because it’s a Bentley, the steering wheel, racing seats and door pulls have been hand-stitched in Crewe.
