Bentley to contest more than 90 races in 2016 after a hugely successful 2014 and 2015.

• Bentley Motorsport races across the globe in 2016
• Works team adds Blancpain Sprint Series to calendar
• Wolfgang Reip becomes latest Bentley Boy

Bentley Motorsport will contest more than 90 top-level GT races around the world in 2016, as both its works and customer team programmes expand. The Bentley Team M-Sport works outfit will now enter the full Blancpain GT Series and welcomes Wolfgang Reip to the Blancpain Endurance Series line-up.

Following success in the 2014 and 2015 Blancpain Endurance Series, the Crewe-based operation will now enter the Blancpain Sprint Series aiming to retain the Continental GT3’s championship title and enabling it to contest the full Blancpain GT Series.

In addition, it will contest the inaugural SRO Intercontinental GT Challenge, which comprises Bathurst 12 Hours, Spa 24 Hours and Sepang 12 Hours.

The Bentley Boy line-up sees two changes for 2016, with the promotion of Vince Abril from a customer team driver to full works team position and the addition of Wolfgang Reip, winner of the 2015 Blancpain Endurance Series.

“When you’re looking for a new works team driver, you naturally look at your toughest competition,” commented Bentley’s Director of Motorsport Brian Gush. “For the last two seasons we have enjoyed some really close battles with Wolfgang so we invited him along to test with us. We were very impressed and we’re pleased to welcome him as our latest Bentley Boy.”

Alongside the works team programme, Bentley Continental GT3s will run in the world’s top national championships; Blancpain Endurance Series; Pirelli World Challenge; GT Asia; ADAC GT Masters and the British GT Championship, with customer and partner teams carefully selected by Gush.

“We’ve been very careful when selecting which teams will represent us this season,” commented Gush. “When you look at our teams and their programmes, I’m proud to say that I think they could all win their championships and that’s exactly where Bentley belongs – at the front, at all times.”

With Bentley Team M-Sport busy contesting the Blancpain GT Series, the British manufacturer’s Nürburgring 24 Hours assault will, this year, be campaigned by Bentley Team Abt Sportsline.

“Although we are working with Bentley Team Abt Sportsline at Nürburgring 24 Hours this year, the works team and manufacturer support will be at the same high-level it has been at for the last two years. A win here is as important for the brand today as it has ever been.”

The 2016 Bentley Motorsport works team will next race at Misano on 8 April for the opening round of the Blancpain GT Series.

Works team driver line-ups:

Blancpain Endurance Series

Car #7; Guy Smith (GB), Steven Kane (GB) and Vince Abril (MO)

Car #8: Andy Soucek (ES), Maxime Soulet (BE) and Wolfgang Reip (BE)

Blancpain Sprint Series:

Car #7: Steven Kane (GB) and Vince Abril (MO)

Car: #8: Andy Soucek (ES) and Maxime Soulet (BE)

Customer/works-supported teams:

Bentley Team Absolute: GT Asia and Pirelli World Challenge

Bentley Team Abt Sportsline: ADAC GT Masters and Nürburgring 24 Hours

Bentley Team Parker Racing: Blancpain Endurance Series and British GT Championship

Rolls Royce re-enacts event that gave it it's best car in the world title.

• Alpine Trial Centenary Collection celebrates landmark moment in Rolls-Royce and automotive history – the establishment of the Silver Ghost as the ‘Best Car in the World’
• First ever Bespoke homage to a heritage Rolls-Royce car
• Rolls-Royce Motor Cars announces entry of Works Team into the centenary 20-Ghost Club reenactment of 1913 Alpine Trial

A century ago this June, four Rolls-Royce Silver Ghosts embarked on the Austrian Alpine Trials, the most arduous test of automotive endurance of the time.

In performing without fault over 1820 gruelling miles of near impassable mountain terrain, the Rolls-Royce Works Team and privateer entrant James Radley helped cement the marque’s reputation for peerless reliability and mechanical excellence, a reputation the company proudly retains today. The Silver Ghosts’ performance establishing Rolls-Royce as maker of the ‘Best Car in the World’.

At Auto China 2013, the Bespoke department at the Home of Rolls-Royce in Goodwood, England celebrates these endeavours with the launch of the Alpine Trial Centenary Collection.

The first time a Bespoke model has taken inspiration from a heritage Rolls-Royce, this limited edition of Rolls-Royce Ghosts features exquisitely crafted design cues that pay tribute to the 1913 Alpine Trials cars. The exterior paint hue, for example takes close inspiration from Radley’s Silver Ghost, a car that will participate in this year’s reenactment of the 1913 Alpine Trial, as part of the Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Works Team.

The Radley car’s distinct black grille and wheels are also replicated across the collection – the first time a painted grille has adorned a contemporary Rolls-Royce motor car.

The cabin plays host to Bespoke details that elegantly tell the story of the Alpine Trial. The clock displays the stages of the rally and timings, whilst inlays to rear picnic tables and the front fascia express the topography and distances of the Alpine route. Each element is meticulously hand-crafted and researched to ensure accuracy, epitomising hallmark Rolls-Royce attention to detail.

A hand-painted coachline referencing the four Rolls-Royces that took part in the rally and headlining, colour-matched to the hood of Radley’s car, completes a beautiful homage.

“The 1913 Alpine Trial was an extraordinary moment in the rich history of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars,” said Torsten Müller-Ötvös, CEO Rolls-Royce Motor Cars.“The standards of engineering and pioneer spirit required to achieve such feats stands as inspiration to everyone associated with the marque. The Bespoke Alpine Trial Centenary Collection is a fitting tribute to these achievements. It is testament to the enduring quality of a Rolls-Royce motor car that this 2013 car will be joined by a participant in the original trials, the 1913 Radley Silver Ghost.”

An extraordinary story re-enacted…

In celebration of the centenary of the 1913 Alpine Trial, the 20-Ghost Club has organised a faithful re-enactment which will start in Vienna on 14 June 2013.

A Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Works Team comprising a 2013 Alpine Trial Centenary Collection Ghost and Radley 1913 Silver Ghost will participate in the rally.

In total, over 40 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghosts will traverse through Austria, Slovenia, Italy and Croatia – taking in some of Europe’s most beautiful scenery, before returning to Vienna on 29 June.

They will converge with a parallel rally organised by the Rolls-Royce Enthusiasts Club for a Gala at the beautiful Riva del Garda, Italy. 100 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghosts will stand side-by-side that evening, representing the largest gathering of its kind in history.