Bentley studies race options

Bentley has stepped up its drive to return to motor sport with the recruitment of Le Mans 24 Hours-winning designer Graham Humphrys.

The designer of the 1999-winning BMW V12 LMR has joined John Wickham, who was also team director during Bentley’s SPEED 8 campaigns at the Le Mans 24 Hours in 2001-03, in undertaking a feasibility study on the British luxury car maker’s return to motor racing in the GT ranks. Top of their list is evaluating the Continental GT for the GT3 class, but it is also understood that there are other options in the longer term.

Bentley powertrain and chassis director Brian Gush, whose responsibilities include motor sport, admitted that Humphrys had joined the company as a consultant but was at pains to stress that no decisions had been made.

“Graham is helping us out with feasibility work. He has a lot of experience in both GT and prototypes,” he said.

Bentley is understood to be looking at producing a GT3 version of the Continental inhouse. This would be offered for sale to customers.

The return to motor sport could be a prelude to a more overt programme which could encompass Le Mans. GT3 machinery currently cannot compete there.