Bentley To Chase Pikes Peak Production Car Record With Continental GT

Bentley will head to this year’s Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in an attempt to set a new production car record.

The British car manufacturer took the Bentayga to Pikes Peak last year and set an SUV record in the process. This year, Bentley will bring with it the latest Continental GT and chase glory with Pikes Peak legend Rhys Millen behind the wheel.

The Continental GT is not the first car that comes to mind when thinking about performance production car records. Sure, it uses a twin-turbo W12 engine with 626 hp and 663 lb-ft (900 Nm) of torque, but it also happens to weight in excess of 2200 kg (4850 lbs). It is nevertheless quite brisk off the line thanks to its use of an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission and all-wheel drive, but running up Pikes Peak is a lot more difficult than flooring the throttle in a straight line.

The Pikes Peak International Hill Climb has long been one of the most challenging motorsport events anywhere in the world. Very few companies bring production-car based vehicles to the event and even fewer road-going cars ever run up the mountain. In fact, the production car record was once held by the 2014 Range Rover Sport with a time of 12:35.61. The Continental GT certainly has a chance of dipping below the 10-minute mark, as the Bentayga recorded a time of 10:49.9.

Speaking about his involvement in the record attempt, Rhys Millen said he was very excited.

“When I learned of Bentley’s plans to compete at Pikes Peak for a second time, the decision to work together again was an easy one.

“The Continental GT and its W12 provide us with the perfect platform to begin chasing a new record, and I am looking forward to once again being part of the Bentley Motorsport team that will prepare the car over the coming months.”