Bentley Continental GT set for Pikes Peak record attempt

Bentley Motors has confirmed it will attempt to break the outright production car record at the Pikes Peak Hill Climb with its Bentley Continental GT as part of its centenary celebrations.

Last year the luxury British car-maker set a new Pikes Peak record for the fastest SUV up the mountain with its Bentayga, setting a very respectable 10 minutes 49.9 seconds run, but to nab the production car record, the Bentley Continental GT will have to complete the famous hill climb in less than 10:26.9.

To be in for the best chance of clenching the record the Continental GT is said to have already undergone extensive testing to help prepare both driver and car for the record attempt.

Biggest challenge facing Bentley engineers is how the mighty twin-turbocharged 6.0-litre W12 copes when working flat out in the high altitude.

At sea level the Conti GT's W12 produces 473kW and 900Nm allowing it to haul its 2.2 tonne mass to 100km/h in a respectable 3.7 seconds but at the 2800m start line, and its eventual climb to its 4300m peak, where the air density is reduced by a third.

Down on power, weather may also ruin the Bentley's record-breaking chances,

Temperatures on the mountain regularly top 30C, seeing under bonnet temps skyrocket, but engineers are more worried about the course being disrupted by snow, despite being summer in the US.

Clawing back an advantage for the British team is this year it has 'King of the Mountain' Rhys Millen who is a veteran of Pikes Peak and knows how to battle against the unique conditions a record-breaking run entails.

This year Millen will have an oxygen system fed directly into his helmet to battle against altitude sickness.

Despite the challenge of wrestling a big heavyweight coupe up the hill in a record-beating time, Millen remains confident that the teams experience and preparation with the successful Bentayga run will pay-off this year.

“In the Pikes Peak environment, it [Continental GT] really checks every box as the most competitive vehicle you could arm yourself. This is one run, one day of the year. You have to be calm, be focused and process everything that you have to.” said Millen.

Bentley's attempt at setting an outright production car record will take place on June 30.

Last year Frenchman Romain Dumas raced VW’s pure-electric I.D. R Pikes Peak up through 156 corners over 19.99km in an incredible 7 minutes 57.148 seconds, setting a new outright course record.