Victory Through Perfect Racing

The Blancpain GT Series is an annual 12-round series contested by GT3 category machines based on production sports cars. Launched in the 2014 season, the series features renowned European circuits such as Paul Ricard (France), Monza (Italy), Brands Hatch (UK), and Spa-Francorchamps. The races are composed of two programs: the endurance race "Endurance Cup" and the relatively shorter "Sprint Cup."

Bentley competes in this Blancpain GT Series with the Continental GT3 as a works team. In its debut 2014 season, the team ranked 7th in the overall team standings. In the 2015 season, it achieved 2nd place in the overall team standings, and in the 2016 season, it finished 5th. The team consistently battles at the top.


In this year's Paul Ricard 1000km (June 23-24), positioned as a prelude to the popular and highly anticipated Spa-Francorchamps 24 Hours (July 27-30), the No. 8 Bentley Continental GT3 from Bentley Team M-Sport (Andy Soucek / Maxime Soulet / Vincent Abril) qualified in 8th place among over 50 competing cars. Starting from a respectable 8th position on the grid, they aimed for a strong finish.

During the race, the No. 8 Bentley Continental GT3, which had climbed to 5th position, pitted 20 minutes after the start when a full-course yellow was deployed due to an incident involving a Porsche and a Ferrari. Brian Gush, Bentley Team M-Sport's Race Director, described it as "a perfect pit stop." Subsequently, the No. 8 car brilliantly took the lead. Although they briefly lost the lead to another car after four hours, they regained the top spot and maintained a steady race pace. As Brian Gush recalled, "a perfect race," they crossed the finish line in first place, a full 30 seconds ahead of the second-place car.

Driver Vince Abril commented, "It was an unbelievable race. This is also my first endurance race victory. The team functioned perfectly. This win is more rewarding than any previous achievement, and I can't wait for the next race at Spa." Maxime Soulet added, "I was in the zone until then, but after eight laps, I had a 30-second lead over second place, which eased the pressure. It was a tough race, battling the heat, but this victory is fantastic." Andy Soucek exclaimed, "It was perfect! The car was perfect, the strategy was perfect, the pit crew was perfect, and my teammates were perfect. All the elements we possess came together, reaffirming that we are always performing at our best."

However, Bentley Motorsport's success did not end there. It continued across the Atlantic.

Victory in North America Followed Swiftly

Approximately six hours after the triumphant victory at the Paul Ricard 1000km, the No. 88 Bentley Team Absolute achieved a remarkable win in Round 4 of the Pirelli World Challenge held on the same day at Road America in Wisconsin, USA.

The Pirelli World Challenge is a popular North American racing category primarily featuring GT3 machines, contested over 11 rounds. The No. 88 Bentley Team Absolute started the race from a front-row grid position, secured by qualifying in 2nd place. This victory in the 50-minute sprint race was the culmination of a thrilling battle, finishing just 0.239 seconds ahead of the second-place Porsche 911 GT3. Winning this tough race must have boosted the team's confidence for the future.


Adrien de Leener, who drove the No. 88 car, said, "After coming close to victory multiple times last year, I'm truly happy that this year's determination has paid off. I'm also delighted to have rewarded the efforts of the team crew. The Bentley Continental GT3 performed exceptionally well on this track. If we can maintain this momentum in the next round, I believe fortune will smile upon us again."

The final week of June brought Bentley a period of global joy.

Then, in the final week of July, at the Spa-Francorchamps 24 Hours (July 27-30), one of the most popular races in the Blancpain GT Series, Bentley Team M-Sport finished in 2nd place among the 63 cars that reached the final. They secured a podium finish. This victory was a hard-won result, achieved despite significant damage to the front section from an accident. Bentley's strength is undeniable.

Bentley, known as a historic luxury brand, also has a tradition of success in racing. This dual strength, excelling in both luxury and competition, and the victories it brings, silently demonstrate that Bentley is an unparalleled entity, far beyond a mere luxury brand.