Why is Bentley not racing?

The problem with big conglomerates like VW is how to get all brands in motorsport without competing with yourself. So as long as Audi has a major presence in LMS/ALMS, I don't expect to see Bentley there. Remember the year they revadged the Audi R8 as a bentley and won Lemans? One or the other, not both...

Would be interesting to see a CGT in FIA GT or GT2, etc but I think that is a marketing issue- the CGT competes with the Merc CL and the BMW 6 more than the Astons, Porsches, Ferraris, Vettes and so forth.

So basically it comes down to brand strategy and corporate marketing, the real driving force in racing...

 

Bentley is in the LUXURY car market, not the sportscar market.

Competition wouldn't bring anything to the brand, that can easily rest on its past.

Bentley sees itself competing against Rolls-Royce, Maybach, Mercedes, etc... not against Porsche, Ferrari or Aston Martin.

There is nothing remotely sporty their range, and they don't position themselves as sportscars manufacturer at all.

Their last foray in endurance racing and their Le Mans victory was blatant 'badge engineering' and frankly did nothing for their image.

An AUDI painted green with a winged B badge and entered by a German-speaking crew doesn't bode well for the Bentley traditional customers!! It's farcical !!!

 

As everyone has stated, its an Audi, and a luxury brand. Would have to be a privateer entry.

 

Maybe on your side of the pond, but the rappers and other neuvo-showoffs did not give Bentley the time of day until after the little LeMans badge engineered victory. As the Badge is all that matters to too many in this world. I would say that here in the US of A, the "traditional" Bentley customers like my grandfather have been dead for half a generation. I have meet many a Continental GT/Flying Spur driver, and in the DC area there are now too many to be considered exotics anymore, who considered them against the 911 and Aston Martins, as well as against the offerings of Mercedes. A Continental GT would be a great fit on the courses of the world against the 911's and Aston's.

VAG can run the Audi's as prototypes and the Bentley's in GT, but now that they are once again reunited with once astranged cousins at Porsche, there could be trouble with the prototype and the GT overlap in the family.

 

really cool to see this program happen, nice to see Dyson back and when was the last time a Bentley raced in the US? I have no idea... this will be fun

 

PWC is great, their biggest struggle now IMO is their schedule...right now they're basically an Indycar support series, with some other random races thrown in (Miller, NJMP, Branierd, etc). they used to run a lot with ALMS but after the "merger" there, lost their spot to Continental Tire. I'd love to see them highlight a race weekend, not be an appetizer or dessert.

also I think PWC should be run as the last event the weekend of the SCCA Runoffs

 

Great news for Bentley, Dyson and PWC.

The fact that Bentley are returning to their racing roots is good news all 'round. That
Bentley is considered a luxury brand rather than a sports/exotic is something they've
obviously had to address.

Producing the mad amount of Continental GTs that they've made over the years which
kicked the factory at Crewe into three shifts 24/7 obviously fulfilled their order sheets,
the GT was/is a car that supplied the need even by the posers.

Continental GTs are so commonly seen in South Florida, one friend noted they're the
"new Ford Taurus".

Kicking things up a notch however, Bentley models such as the Continental R, Brooklands
and Mulsanne are incredible, must drive to appreciate performers.

BHW

 

Guy Smith (I have a 2013 Guy Smith Le Mans Edition Bentley GT-C...smiles) and Butch Leitzinger will be an outstanding driver pair for the series. The debut of the Bentley GT3 at the Gulf 12 hours of Abu Dhabi went rather well with a fourth place finish for a car that had not been on the track until the practice sessions at the track prior to the race. Once the car is sorted out and the information shared across teams/series they will be contenders. The PWC has some of the best/purist road racing to be had at the present, IMO.

 

^^This^^

 

It was that way when I lived in Fort Lauderdale. They lost their mystique to me.

 

Great news to see Bentley joining the fun, so which rounds will the Reiter Lambos and Real Time Acura be back?

 

It would depend on what point does the learning from racing transfer to the Bentley range and what the costs involved would be.

 

+1

 

I like the look of the Conti GT3, but it's got to be a full-on porker. Can't imagine how they're going to get it trimmed down. I'm sure BoP adjustments can make it a contender.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHU_finZt9E]Bentley Continental GT3 Testing | AutoMotoTV - YouTube[/ame]

CW

 

I wish them well and I am glad they are rekindling their motorsports program.

 

Some good Bentley footage at Monza from a couple weeks ago

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41R5jBzW78A]Blancpain Endurance Series - Monza - Event Highlights - YouTube[/ame]

 

answer: Sebring 12 hours, 2003 with the Speed 8 (ie rebodied R8)
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Love this pic of it..
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