Bentley coming back to racing? - Page 2

Jonerz · 30 Aug 2011, 20:01 (Ref:2948483)

Having not read ANY of these articles: Formula 1?

Chris

pablocomics · 31 Aug 2011, 12:29 (Ref:2948788)

Yatch racing is elite enough for Bentley and more propper for the Continental size

**joeb** · 31 Aug 2011, 13:03 (Ref:2948810)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jonerz

Having not read ANY of these articles: Formula 1?

Chris

They haven't decided what series, or the timescale for returning to racing.

dj choc ice · 31 Aug 2011, 19:02 (Ref:2948967)

The flying spur could possibly fit into DTM but Bentley don't exactly compete directly against BMW and Audi. They do sort of compete against Mercedes in road car terms with say the CL coupe with the Conti GT.

Personally I can't see Bentley running a GT programme with the conti, it's too big and heavy IMO. The most likely thing you would think would be a LMP programme in the near future, that would make more sense pitting them against Aston Martin and the supposed Jaguar P1 programme.

GT6 · 31 Aug 2011, 20:51 (Ref:2949031)

Very unlikely that the VW group would want 3 of there makes in the LMP so unless porsche romours are untrue or Audi pull there programme very unlikely.

rich07 · 5 Sep 2011, 07:40 (Ref:2950961)

Quote:

Originally Posted by dj choc ice

The flying spur could possibly fit into DTM but Bentley don't exactly compete directly against BMW and Audi. They do sort of compete against Mercedes in road car terms with say the CL coupe with the Conti GT.

That could work-like a tank. Heavyweight class? Flying Spur v S Class v 7 Series v S8 (?)

Dont think Audi would want them in there as they're both part of VAG.

Dead-Eye · 5 Sep 2011, 11:15 (Ref:2951064)

I think a one make series is the most likely option - and 20 Continentals going at each other would look pretty epic I think .

Tim the Grey · 6 Sep 2011, 16:51 (Ref:2951723)

Hmmm. I had a bit of a double take at 2 cars side by side at traffic lights in Sunday.
Continental GT, and an M3. Stone me, the GT is a LOT smaller than I thought.
Mebbe they COULD do a Continental GT-E...

dj choc ice · 7 Sep 2011, 02:04 (Ref:2951972)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim the Grey

Hmmm. I had a bit of a double take at 2 cars side by side at traffic lights in Sunday.
Continental GT, and an M3. Stone me, the GT is a LOT smaller than I thought.
Mebbe they COULD do a Continental GT-E...

Size wise there isn't a lot in it but I can't help but think it would be a tough job getting the Conti down to GTE weight. The main issue is what engine would they use? then on those grounds, would the ACO allow it to race?

Either way, if we get a Bentley LMP or GT car, it would be brilliant to have Bentley back in sports car racing.

Tim the Grey · 7 Sep 2011, 14:07 (Ref:2952203)

Take all that leather trim out, that should help. Starting with the new Continental Supersport Coupe won't hurt either.
Seriously, it's 500KG more than an M3 in road trim.
Add Carbon, Perspex, and Titanium, take out 4 wheel drive, it shouldn't be THAT hard to match an M3 for weight. Then persuade the ACO to offer one or two waivers. I'd love to hear a W12 on open pipes....

CTD · 7 Sep 2011, 14:16 (Ref:2952205)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim the Grey

Take all that leather trim out, that should help. Starting with the new Continental Supersport Coupe won't hurt either.
Seriously, it's 500KG more than an M3 in road trim.
Add Carbon, Perspex, and Titanium, take out 4 wheel drive, it shouldn't be THAT hard to match an M3 for weight. Then persuade the ACO to offer one or two waivers. I'd love to hear a W12 on open pipes....

Isn't there some limit of modification?

MitchZ06 · 8 Sep 2011, 02:20 (Ref:2952478)

Swap the engine for a destroked 6.75l V8 (down to 5.5l) and the rest is legal modification. AWD isn't allowed in GTE so it would go shedding weight, being a racer it doesn't need all that luxury interior fitting so strip the shell and that's even more weight lost, change all body panels that can be changed to carbon fibre, add perspex windows and then go hunting for weight savings and it should be possible to make weight. Get a waiver to use a transaxle and it'd be good to go weight distribution wise.

Tim the Grey · 8 Sep 2011, 10:30 (Ref:2952568)

Ah, you've read the BMW racing handbook, then?
Seriously, M3 coupes have a Carbon Reinforced Plastic roof, FFS... No reason Bentley cannot do similar. Bonnets are commnly CRP in GT3, presumably boots and other bits too.

MitchZ06 · 8 Sep 2011, 10:39 (Ref:2952571)

I did leave out the good bits....

TF110 · 8 Sep 2011, 18:38 (Ref:2952826)

NFS Shift 2 has a peetty nice interpretation of a 'what if' for the Conti'. Works package turns any car to a race car, looks decent.