Bentley coming back to racing?

[Acid09]

One has to wonder why it takes ages for companies like Toyota or Honda to make their move to LMP1 while VAG is seriously thinking about having three brands at once (!) competing there....

[TF110]

VAG already has a basis in LeMans, Bentley has won, Audi has won, Porsche has wom. On top of it they already have the R18, a basis or benchmark to the other companies. Toyota will start from scratch while evaluating the Lola program. All in due time I say.

[Tim the Grey]

Originally Posted by gucom

wow... I think this article has been custom-written to have all of us here drooling!

http://www.autocar.co.uk/News/NewsAr...llCars/259347/

That would seem to be in addition to the article I read when I started the thread. That one had Duerheimer DENYING an LMP1...
Perhaps VAG board have a green flag for him, now?
As said, Asia and/or ALMS would be handy to build the image where they need it. Europe KNOW who Bentley are!

Cheers.

[AGD]

This is nothing shocking compared to other recent reports, but Durheimer is saying that he is keen on having VW/VAG race in the US. Pikes Peak, Indycar, Grand-Am, and the ALMS are mentioned as possibilities. What brands are being considered, what locations are being studied, and what series are being studied seems to be a wide open question right now. It seems that the only thing we can rule out is a VW NHRA dragster, but even then they may change their mind!

http://www.thedetroitbureau.com/2011...s-motorsports/

[TF110]

I read on an auto site that they (VW) were even considering Nascar, but ruled that out as well. Siting costs.

[CTD]

Originally Posted by TF110

I read on an auto site that they (VW) were even considering Nascar, but ruled that out as well. Siting costs.

VW in Nascar sounds weird too.
A shame to see the Passat silhouette on a fat Nascar body!

[Tim the Grey]

Audi A8, of course...

[MitchZ06]

Wouldn't it be good for VAG to have Audi vs Porsche vs Bentley at Le Mans? With the teams being actually restricted to 2 cars each locking out the top 5-6 spots on grid at Le Mans would be excellent marketing for VAG especially if it was Audi, Bentley and Porsche (1 each) on the podium.

[Simmi]

Yeah I think once you allow inter-brand competition between two marques then why not three?

As gucom said it would be like some sort of sportscar fans' wet dream.

Head over heart though I still think Audi will eventually create an all-conquering GT car.

[Tim the Grey]

Now there is something I disagree on, as they are treading straight on Porker's toes. While they were 2 separate companies, yes, the R8 LMS made a lot of sense, taking the 997 head on.

Now?

Audi have the R18 as 'halo'.
Do VAG need both models? Not really... The new 991 may well be a death knell for the R8 V10. Although that does provide an alternative outlet for the Gaillardo engine plant.

[RTH]

Would be really nice to see Bentley back at LeMans in 2 or 3 years.
Maybe they have a new smaller lighter sports/GT road car in mind to base a GT car on?

Possibly something with R8 based running gear made from composites with a small frontal area a downforce promoting profile yet low drag, would be a bit more in tune with road car trends over the next decade too?

Certainly cannot see a Continental GT based car far too bulky surely, or another rebodied Audi LMP1. Hope they will do something.

[FIRE]

Originally Posted by CTD

VW in Nascar sounds weird too.
A shame to see the Passat silhouette on a fat Nascar body!

VW will not enter NASCAR.

[MitchZ06]

Like a good soup the plot thickens.

[TF110]

4850lbs.! Amazing how much the car weighs. It's a boat, but it is fast. The SuperSports model already weighs 4940lbs. So I wonder if there will be a version of that? Perhaps GT2 SuperSports? If they can drop 400lbs.+ for the GT2, I wonder if they could do the same with a SuperSports model of the GT2? They lose the AWD which is probably the major factor, so I wonder if this is to the same liking as the SS or if it's still loaded but just RWD?

[MitchZ06]

If it gets homologated with the V8 engine then it's a pretty clear cut sign that we'll get a GTE version for racing.

[RTH]

Big and heavy cars bring a whole host of problems with them for endurance racing.
Think 1950 Le Mans and the Cunningham Cadilac

http://www.briggscunningham.com/home...lemans50.html/

[MitchZ06]

60 years does wonders for technology...would be a fool to think a Conti GTE would weigh anything more than 1300kg with the materials we have today.

[Carsandmotorracing]

This is fantastic!!

[Tim the Grey]

See my comments earlier re shedding half a ton!
Dimensionally, it's not far off an M3. So, yes, a GT2/GT-E spec is certainly achievable! We just need them to do it.
Hmmm. GT3 version, just so it can 'upgrade' to World GT could be fun.

[TF110]

Carbon Fiber everything, smaller wheels, windows, no interior; bet a 1000lbs. would be gone.

[MitchZ06]

Losing that luxo interior alone should make the thing half the weight...

[JAG]

Bentley are developing what Evo describes as a Continental RS that will be 500kg (1100lbs) lighter than the Supersport.

If built it will be a rival to cars like 458 and LFA.

[MitchZ06]

Supersports - 2375kg
GT2/RS - 1875kg

It'll still weight a couple hundred kilos more than those 2.....another 600kg off and it'd be closer (1275kg) to current GTE regs.

[TF110]

3800lbs. for a continental with over 650hp would be a flier. Maybe like a more modern Mercedes SLR type of power/weight. Obviously if this happens, they're going to look more into the 'sport' side of their vehicle(s). I do wonder if that'll lead to racing this car, or if they go LMP.

[MitchZ06]

GTE would be the best choice IMO, great racing between 4 odd manufacturers already and adding in Bentley would make that 5 which is something LMP1 hasn't got.