The New Bentley Continental GT3 Is A Classy Thug Of A Racing Car

Just a couple of months on from the reveal of the lighter, smarter third-generation Bentley Continental GT we have the GT3 racing version. And Bentley must be well aware that it looks like an utter thug, given that it has placed the car in a series of moody, darkened studio shots. We approve.

As with the last GT3 Bentley, this one’s been developed in partnership with M-Sport. Due to GT3 regulations the all-wheel drive system has been ditched, a move which - along with the usual full interior strip - cuts the weight to well below 1300kg. As a quick reminder, the road-going, W12-powered Conti GT weighs over 2200kg.

“A new development” of the outgoing car’s Audi-derived, 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 will send its power rearwards, via a six-speed, transaxle-mounted sequential gearbox made by Ricardo. Remove the air restrictors, and the V8 is good for 542bhp.

The GT3 has double wishbone suspension at the front and rear that’s vastly different to the road car’s setup, while at the rear you’ll find super-fat 355-section slick tyres. The brakes are from Alcon, with six-piston callipers up front and four-piston callipers at the rear.

Want to see it in action? Bentley Motorsport is fielding a pair of the cars in the Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup next year, as well as the Intercontinental GT Challenge. It’ll make its competition debut at the first round of the 2018 Blancpain season in Monza.