GOODWOOD - Bentley to showcase it's first SUV, the Continental GT3 race car, and a stunning Blower 4.5 Litre.

The GT Speed was unveiled in early 2016 with the handcrafted Bentley raising the benchmark for bespoke interior quality and unparalleled performance and power. The new Continental GT Speed is the fastest-ever Bentley produced, reaching speeds of 206mph.

Lining up alongside the GT Speed is Bentley’s first ever production SUV, the Bentayga. 

Built in Britain, the Bentayga interior and all-new Bentley W12 petrol engine bring traditional Bentley comfort and performance to the luxury SUV class.

Completing the trio of UK debuts at Festival of Speed is the Flying Spur V8 S. The most refined V8 performance sedan in the world showcases Bentley’s trademark comfort and dynamics, delivering effortless driveability with enhanced engine performance and intuitive in-car technology.

Bentley will showcase several legendary models on Goodwood’s famous hill climb, with the iconic Team Blower Le Mans 24 hours car from 1928 sure to thrill the crowds. Other dynamic appearances include:

• The Bentayga driven by Bentley Brand Ambassador, Derek Bell
• The GT3 race car driven by Bentley Boy, David Brabham
• The luxurious new Flying Spur V8 S

Bentley racing, from the Old to the New with the Bentley Continental GT3 and the 4.5 Litre Blower.

• Racers past and present come together to mark extraordinary year of motorsport
• 2015 saw Continental GT3 win two major international GT championship titles
• This year marks the 85^th anniversary of the famous 1930 Le Mans win
• Cars met at the British Racing Drivers’ Club – founded by Bentley Boy, Dudley Benjafield

With the chequered flag set to fall on the 2015 motorsport season, Bentley is celebrating a remarkable run of results by bringing together two generations of racer – the Continental GT3 and legendary 4.5 Litre ‘Blower’.

The current GT3 and its illustrious forebear from 1929 met at Silverstone in front of the British Racing Drivers’ Club (BRDC), the motorsport organisation founded in 1928 by Bentley Boy and Le Mans winner, Dudley Benjafield.

They may be separated by more than eight decades but the two racing cars share Bentley’s indefatigable passion for innovation, competition and, above all, speed.

Bentley Continental GT3 in 2015 – A Season to Remember

In just its second year of competition in GT racing, the Bentley motorsports programme has gone from strength to strength in 2015.

With teams competing on four continents, the Continental GT3 scored multiple pole positions, race wins, podiums and, at the end of the season,  won the highly-competitive Blancpain Sprint Series and took the overall team title in the GT Asia Series.

Other highlights from the season include a best-ever finish at the 24 Hours of Spa, a four-car assault on the Nürburgring 24 Hours and successful completion of the grueling Bathurst 12 Hours.

With a driver line-up featuring Le Mans winner, Guy Smith, former BRDC Young Driver of the Year, Steven Kane, and 2015 Blancpain Sprint Series champion, Vincent Abril, next year’s racing promises to be even more fruitful.

Bentley’s Director of Motorsport, Brian Gush, said: “As the team prepares for another exciting racing season in 2016, it’s rewarding to look back on 2015 and to see how far we’ve come. We’re racing on four continents in the world’s largest and most competitive GT races and series. From Bathurst to Silverstone and Macau to Monterey, we’re competing with the best that GT racing has to offer.”

The Birkin ‘Blower’

One of just five ever made for racing, the Blower was used by the original Bentley racing team – the Bentley Boys – of the late 1920s, and is still performing over eight decades later.

This year marks the 85^th anniversary of the Woolf Barnato and Glen Kidston Le Mans victory in 1930. While the supercharged Blower wasn’t the winning car that day, with Tim Birkin at the wheel its heroic performance embodies the true spirit of the vintage racing era.

In the 1930 race, Birkin and his Blower diced for the lead with Mercedes ace, Rudi Carracciola, passing him flat out down the Hunaudières straight with his nearside wheels on the grass. Birkin successfully pushed the Mercedes to breaking point, but also had to retire with six hours to go, and the race was eventually won by Barnato and Kidston in their Speed Six.

Featuring its original Vanden Plas Open Sports four-seat body, the Blower was described by Autocar magazine in September 1930 as having ‘the appeal of immense power, linked with great docility’.

Bentley and the British Racing Drivers’ Club

Joseph Dudley Benjafield had a lifelong passion for motorsports. He began racing after purchasing a Bentley 3 Litre in 1924. He had talent, and was quickly offered a drive in Bentley’s company racer. He competed in the 24 Hours of Le Mans seven times, and won the event in 1927 with co-driver and fellow Bentley Boy, Sammy Davis.

Benjafield founded the BRDC in 1928. It began primarily as a socialising club for him and his fellow drivers, but by the time of its inauguration the 25 original members had devised a set of objectives for the club, including ‘to extend hospitality to racing drivers from overseas’.

Today the BRDC is, arguably, the most exclusive club in motor racing. With a membership that numbers only 800, it is home to the most successful racing drivers from Great Britain and the Commonwealth. Those who have met the exacting entry criteria have achieved at the highest levels of the sport, or made a significant contribution to enable others to do so.

Bentley to star at the Cholmondeley Pageant of Power from Tomorrow.

• Luxury and performance from across the ages on stand and track
• Bentley Continental GT Speed and GT V8 S to perform on circuit
• EXP2 from 1920, famous Bentley Blower and Blue Train car on display
• Bentley is a proud sponsor of Cholmondeley Pageant of Power

Bentley is attending this year’s Cholmondeley Pageant of Power in Cheshire (12-14 June) with an extensive array of cars. Prominent models from the brand’s history and current line-up will be on hand, with a pair of Continental GTs in action on the famous track.

With 635 PS (626 bhp) and 528 PS (521 bhp) respectively, the Bentley Continental GT Speed and GT V8 S Grand Tourers will set a blistering pace around Cholmondeley’s narrow, twisting circuit. The Continental GT Speed coupe is Bentley’s fastest production car ever. Its Crewe-built, twin-turbo W12 engine produces a mighty 820Nm, which helps propel the car to its top speed of 331 km/h (206 mph).

Visitors will also find the Mulsanne Speed and Flying Spur – two of the world’s finest four-door saloons – on the Bentley stand. Hand-built at the home of Bentley in Crewe, the flagship Mulsanne Speed combines state-of-the-art technology with traditional craftsmanship. It takes over 400 hours for the dedicated team of 298 skilled craftspeople and artisans to build each car.

The origins of Bentley’s celebrated story will be on display at the event, held on the grounds of the Cholmondeley estate. The EXP2 is the oldest Bentley in existence. Built in 1920, the 3-litre 4-cylinder car has a top speed of 80mph, so it’s unsurprising that it was a successful racer in its day – claiming the brand’s first ever victory. The famous Bentley Blower will join its forebear at Cholmondeley. Featuring the legendary supercharger installation developed by Amherst Villiers, the Blower is arguably the most famous model from Bentley’s illustrious past.

This year is the 85th anniversary of that most famous Bentley Boy adventure – the Blue Train race. The car that (probably) accomplished the feat will also be at the event.

In 1930 Captain Woolf Barnato, Chairman of Bentley Motors, was staying in Cannes when he accepted a wager that not only could he beat the Calais-Mediterranée Express (or ‘Blue Train’) back to Calais, but that he could be at his club in London before the train even reached the English Channel. He was, and the remarkable victory has resonated with Bentley enthusiasts ever since.

Richard Charlesworth, Director of Royal Relations & Heritage, said: “The Cholmondeley Pageant of Power is a local event for us – just 13 miles from Crewe and the home of Bentley. It’s a fantastic opportunity to showcase the craftsmanship and skills of our 3,800-strong workforce, and the great heritage of our famous brand.”

Bentley celebrates best result at 2014 Mille Miglia.

• Bentley Blower secures highest position to date
• Continental GT3 racer Jerome D’Ambrosio excels on debut 
• Unique Bentley celebration held in Brescia

This year’s Mille Miglia challenge, which involved hundreds of classic cars from across the world attempt to complete a gruelling 4-day and 1700km drive through Italy, saw Bentley Motors secure its best position to date with one of the company’s iconic 4 ½ Litre supercharged Bentley Blowers.

Rolf Frech, Bentley’s Member of the Board for Engineering and Jerome D’Ambrosio, finished in 73^rd position out of the 438 cars that took part; the best result achieved by Bentley to date and also one of the highest British finishers.

Rolf Frech comments: “Once again Mille Miglia proved to be a real test of every driver’s stamina and ability. The Bentley Blower, which is now in its ninth decade, demonstrated that it is a remarkable piece of engineering and more than capable of meeting the challenge.” 

Bentley works racing driver Jerome D’Ambrosio, making his Mille Miglia debut, proved to be a great addition to the team. Using his considerable skills (usually employed behind the wheel of his Bentley Continental GT3 in the Blancpain Endurance Series) Jerome ensured the Blower was always competitive. Jerome explains:

“It was great to get behind the wheel of such a famous Bentley and understand the immense skills the original Bentley Boy racing drivers had. The car requires a lot of raw strength to drive but has such immense character that even after four days of hard driving it was a shame to reach the finishing line. Following in the footsteps of the first Bentley racing drivers was a great honour and I now feel like a true Bentley Boy.”

A unique meeting of Bentleys before the start of this year’s event ensured the Mille Miglia began in fine style for the Bentley team.

Customers and friends from the Bentley Drivers Club (www.bdcl.co.uk) joined the drivers in the city centre of Brescia. Fittingly, the location for the meeting of Bentleys was the Piazza Bruno Boni which is named in honour of one of the founders of the original Mille Miglia race.

EUROPE - Beautiful new limited run Bentley Mulsanne.

• New Limited Edition Mulsanne exclusively for Europe
• Inspired by gentleman, visionary and Bentley Boy, Tim Birkin
• Three exquisite colour specifications with unique styling details
• Mulliner Driving Specification, Entertainment Specification, and fitted luggage set epitomise the pinnacle of British luxury motoring

Bentley Motors today unveils a new Limited Edition model exclusively for European customers, the Birkin Mulsanne.

Taking inspiration from Sir Henry ‘Tiger’ Tim Birkin – the legendary Bentley Boy who travelled and raced extensively around Europe in the 1920s and 1930s – this new model features numerous unique styling details and represents the pinnacle of British luxury motoring in its most discerning form.

The Limited Edition of just 22 cars is available in three colour specifications: a fresh and contemporary Ghost White, Damson for a more vibrant touch, and a sophisticated contrast of Fountain Blue and Dark Sapphire, offering a modern interpretation of the classic two-tone Bentley paint design.

Numbered door sill plaques, a unique 21" wheel design inspired by those on the original Mulsanne concept car, and a striking 3D ‘Flying B’ logo stitched into the vehicle headrests and inlaid into the wood of the front fascia and rear picnic tables, identify the Birkin models.  In addition, all three specifications feature a stunning tailored luggage set – each one hand-crafted, individually numbered and matched with the interior of each car.

Items have been selected for the Birkin Limited Edition from the Mulsanne’s extensive options list for the well-travelled connoisseur and the Mulliner Driving Specification delivers an engaging motoring experience thanks to a unique ‘Sport’ setting on the Drive Dynamics Control system.  An intricate diamond quilting pattern to the seats and door panels, complemented by an indented leather headlining and ‘knurling’ details to the interior metalwork, create a contemporary and tactile finish to the cabin.

For those travelling in the rear of the Birkin Mulsanne’s spacious cabin, the Entertainment Specification offers a luxurious and comfortable space to work or relax while on the move.  Each car features exquisitely-packaged twin 8" LCD screens in the rear of the seat headrests, a DVD player, a Wi-Fi hotspot, the Naim for Bentley premium audio system and iPads integrated into the hand-crafted solid wood picnic tables.

A tribute to Tim Birkin
The muse for this Limited Edition Mulsanne, Sir Henry Ralph Stanley ‘Tim’ Birkin, was celebrated as both racing legend and unassuming style icon in his time, epitomising the idea of the British gentleman racer.

The Birkin Mulsanne specifications are born from the idea of how Birkin would commission a Bentley today.  With its effortless performance and luxurious hand-crafted cabin, the Bentley Mulsanne embodies the essence of Birkin’s beliefs as motoring connoisseur.  Now, with its unique styling details and exquisite specification, the Limited Edition Birkin Mulsanne is an automotive homage to one of Bentley’s most influential visionaries.

Birkin’s first Bentley was bought simply out of a love of fine motoring, but over time he became increasingly involved with Bentley’s efforts on the road and race track, culminating with his key role in the development of the ‘Blower’ Bentley in 1928.  Birkin saw that to retain its competitive racing edge, the company needed to increase the power of the 130 bhp Bentley 4 ½ litre, and so pushed to fit the car with a supercharger, which increased power to an impressive 242 bhp.

Birkin convinced company owner Woolf Barnato and financial-backer Dorothy Paget to support a production run of 50 cars in order to qualify for Le Mans.  It was for this car – and his fearless style of driving it – that Birkin is perhaps best known.