Hello,
I just read the specifications of the GT3 (see website Bentleymotors). It strikes me that many of the choices made are in contrast with recent evolutions in the stock models. Can anyone explain the motivation for these differences? I take it that on the one side the GT3 is build for a specific use, on the other hand it is meant to be an endurance-car and longevity and reliability are still main goals. To me it looks that choices made for the stock cars are not primarily induced by common sense but by marketing (bling, bling). It would upset me to see that we could make our stock cars better by 'detuning/de-blinging' them.

Any technical motivation for the choice made for the stock ones?
GT3 vs stock:
- only 600bhp (max) vs 625+
- Iron disc brakes vs carbonceramics
- 18" wheels (OZ) vs 21+
- 310/710 R18 tyres vs series 35/30

grtz,
christian

 

I believe that as a competition car, it is built to the regulations for the class it competes in. Ceramic brakes, four wheel drive etc are probably not permitted.

 

Christian,

GT3 is not a street legal car. It's a pure race car that will not be sold to the general public. If Bentley decides to produce it, it will only be sold to professional/private race teams. When designing the GT3, Bentley's biggest goal was light weight (no easy task considering a stock GT weights around 5,200 Lbs). The fact that GT3 weights 2,866 Lbs is pretty amazing, though not very shocking considering the car has virtually no interior, Lexan windows and lots of carbon fiber body panels.

The engine in a GT3 is a V8, not a W12 (apparently W12 was too heavy and V8 helps achieve beter weight distribution), but getting 600Hp out of a twin-turbo V8 is still pretty good. Wheels are small and lightweight (18" seems to be an optimal size for many race cars out there), probably to reduce the unsprung mass.

As far as carbon ceramic brakes are concerned, I remember reading an article that described why ceramic brakes are not used by professional race cars. The rotors are very fragile (they can crack if not handled properly), they are VERY expensive to replace (3-4 times more than steel rotors) and from what I remember they take longer to get up to optimal temperature than steel rotors and generally need to operate at much higher temperature than steels brakes to be efficient.

GT3 was created for one reason - to boost Bentley's racing reputation, which was starting to fade because they have not raced since their LeMans win in 2003. A lot of their market segment competitors (Ferrari, Aston, McLaren, etc) race their cars on a regular basis.

Based on some rumors I got from Bentley employees during some events, there will be a street-legal derivative of the GT3 that will retail for around $500K (of course it will be limited edition, yadda yadda, etc.) However, the good news is that some of the GT3 technology will inevitably trickle down to the 2015 Supersports that will be announced next year and will be more "reasonably" priced at around $300K.