Sejatinya, Bentley Continental GT yang normal bukanlah mobil balap. Coupe mewah ini terasa lebih nyaman di Autobahn daripada mengebut di trek manapun.
Tapi Bentley yang ini sedikit berbeda. Secara khusus dipersiapkan untuk bersaing dalam GP Ice Race di Austria.
Bentley Continental GT yang satu ini kemudian dimodifikasi sedemikian rupa untuk bisa memenuhi tugasnya di arena balap.
Modifikasi Continental GT ini hadir dalam paket yang cukup lengkap. Ia memakai corak hitam dan biru yang terinspirasi dari Pikes Peak.
Rak ski Bentley menggunakan merek Bomber Bentley Centenary Edition yang dikreasikan untuk kegiatan ski.
Lengkap dengan bilah lampu LED besar di atapnya dan ban Pirelli Scorpion yang khusus untuk lintasan salju. Ban itu dibuat untuk bisa mendapatkan grip yang baik.
Sementara untuk mesin Bentley Continental GT ini membawa tipe W12 6.0 liter twin-turbocharged yang menghasilkan tenaga 626 Hp (467 kw) dan torsi 664 lb-ft (900 Nm).
Mesin itu sudah lebih dari cukup untuk ngebut di trek bersalju. Akselerasi Continental GT dari 0-100 km/jam hanya dalam 3,6 detik.
Sedangkan kecepatan tertingginya mencapai 321 km/jam dan pasti tidak akan mungkin tercapai di lintasan salju yang licin dan tebal.
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Galeri: Bentley Continental GT Ice Racing
Satu-satunya hal yang berubah secara mekanis adalah knalpot. Kit racikan Akrapovic aftermarket ini memberikan Continental GT suara yang lebih garang.
Untuk mengatasi salju, Bentley meninggikan mobil sejauh 15 mm. Sementara di dalam mobil, Bentley memasang roll cage belakang, sistem pencegah kebakaran on-board, dan kursi balap serta harness.
Mobil balap Continental GT ini ditunggangi pembalap Junior World Rally Championship, Catie Munnings.
Munnings peraih Trofi Wanita Kejuaraan Reli Eropa FIA dan host acara TV, Catie's Amazing Machines, di Inggris.
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"Saya benar-benar terpesona oleh mobil ini. Saya sebenarnya masih tidak percaya akan balapan dengan Bentley ini."
"Saya kagum dengan dinamis, kegesitan dan responnya. Ia bisa menari seperti mobil reli ringan," ujar Munnings.
Sayangnya, dalam gelaran balap yang dilakukan Februari tahun lalu, Munning tidak berhasil merebut podium. Pembalap ini hanya tercatat di posisi paling buncit di urutan ke-32.
GP Ice Race digelar di Zeel am See, Austria. Perlombaan menggunakan lintasan beku sepanjang 600 meter yang mencakup dua lomba, yaitu: balap standar dan skijoring, yaitu mobil melewati trek dengan menarik seorang pemain ski di belakangnya.
Bentley Motorsport will contest a specially prepared Continental GT at the 2020 GP Ice Race in Zell am See. Following on from Bentley’s recent history of setting Ice Speed Records in 2007 and 2011, the W12-powered Continental GT is ready to continue Bentley’s heritage of high performance on ice at the spectacular showcase event in Austria across the weekend of 1/2 February 2020.
The Ice Race Continental GT will be running in livery that pays homage to its record-breaking compatriot from the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in 2019 and shares the same factory built W12 twin-turbocharged TSI engine. The 6.0-litre unit delivers 635 PS (626 bhp), 900 Nm (664 lb.ft.) , a 0-100 km/h time of 3.7 seconds (0-60 mph in 3.6 seconds) and a top speed of 333 km/h (207 mph). The car’s three chamber air springs, 48V active anti-roll control system and iron brakes are entrusted with the cool running of the Bentley Continental GT on the purpose-built ice track.
Junior World Rally Championship driver Catie Munnings will take to the wheel of the Bentley Continental GT in Zell am See. The FIA European Rally Championship Ladies Trophy winner, former host of the CBeebies television programme Catie's Amazing Machines and daughter of former rally driver Chris Munnings will be the first female driver of the modern era to competitively race for Bentley Motorsport. Catie comments:
“The opportunity to race with Bentley at Zell am See is one that I couldn’t miss. I’m completely blown away by the car, and I actually still can’t believe I’m getting let loose in a Bentley to do an ice race. 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“
Bentley’s Director of Motorsport, Paul Williams, comments:
“I first drove the prototype Continental GTs on snow during winter testing before the launch of the car. The stability and control this car has on these surfaces is unbelievable and I look forward to seeing it race in those conditions.”
The car has been kept as close to production standard as possible, with minimal changes for safety compliance including a rear roll cage, on-board fire suppression system, racing seats and harnesses. Modifications beyond standard include an increase to the the nominal ride height to give greater ground clearance, arch extensions to accommodate a 15 mm increase in track width, studded Pirelli Scorpion tyres, a brace of Lazer high performance lights and a custom exhaust system from Akrapovic, manufacturers of the bespoke exhaust for the Continental GT. The roof will features a bespoke rack, fitted with a pair of Bomber for Bentley Centenary Edition skis.
Consisting of two days of motorsport in unpredictable conditions, the GP Ice Race is the next chapter for Bentley who have a long tradition of testing its cars to the extreme. First run in 1937 and revived last year, the event features an array of historic and modern race and rally cars. The weekend sees drivers compete in various vehicle categories over a 600m frozen racetrack carved from the snow, and involves two tests – standard racing, and an exhibition of skijoring. Skijoring is a competition whereby a skier is towed by a car over a track of snow and ice, and dates back to the Olympic Winter Games 1928 in St. Moritz, when skiers were drawn by riderless horses. Bentley’s 2020 version will feature skier Sven Rauber and considerably more horsepower.