Bentley Continental to compete in the 2020 GP Ice Race

British luxury car and sports utility vehicle (SUV) manufacturer Bentley Motors will participate in the 2020 Grand Prix Ice Race in Zell am See. The Bentley Continental GT will contest in the event to be held on 1 and 2 February. 

Paul Williams, Bentley director of motorsport, said that he first drove the Continental GT prototype on snow during winter to test the car ahead of its official launch. The Continental GT offers unbelievable control and stability on snowy surfaces and he is eager to see how the car performs in race conditions. 

The one-off Continental GT Ice Race is hauled by a twin-turbocharged stratified injection (TSI) motor which produces 626 bhp and 900 Nm peak torque. Bentley claims that the car can attain 0-100 kmph in 3.7 seconds with a top speed of 333 kmph.

The vehicle has a raised ground clearance and runs on specially studded Pirelli Scorpion tires that lend maximum grip on ice and snow. The car has extended wheel arches to accommodate 15 mm of increased track width. The Ice Race Continental GT has a lightweight, bespoke exhaust system, manufactured by Slovakian company Akrapovic. Other modifications include a roof rack that mounts the Lazer spotlights and a pair of skis manufactured by Bomber. 

The Continental GT Ice Race closely resembles its standard version. The former, however, has a pair of harnesses.

The Continental GT Ice Race will be steered by Catie Munnings. She described the vehicle as responsive, nimble, and dynamic.

The two-day Grand Prix Ice Race is held under extremely hostile conditions. Participants compete in various vehicle categories. A 600-meter frozen race track is carved out from the snow. Standard racing and skijoring exhibition are the two tests involved in the event. Skijoring dates back to the 1928 Winter Olympics. The event showcases skiers towed by car over an ice and snow race track.    

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