British luxury car manufacturer Bentley tested out its futuristic biofuel in a race that saw its modified Continental GT3 climb up a 12,780-foot mountain in the 99th Peaks Pike Hill Climb competition in Colorado.
The vehicle’s V8 engine was powered by the carmaker’s new 98RON Renewable racing biofuel that produces 85 percent fewer greenhouse gases than traditional gasoline.
The renewable fuel is a low-carbon, high-octane fuel that is made with ethanol, and is part of the carmaker’s new sustainability initiative.
New Zealand’s racecar driver Rhys Millen drove the Continental GT3 around the track that features more than 100 turns, and finished the 9.42-mile race in six minutes and 36.281 seconds – the fourth fastest time of the event.
‘The 750-plus-horsepower Continental GT3 Pikes Peak is Bentley’s first renewably powered race car, but it certainly won’t be the last,’ the company said in a statement.
British luxury car manufacturer Bentley tested out its futuristic biofuel in a race that saw its modified Continental GT3 climb up a 12,780-foot mountain in the 99th Peaks Pike Hill Climb competition in Colorado
Pikes Peak Hill Climb is called ‘the race to the clouds’ and has been held every year since 1916, making it one of the oldest races in the US.
It is also one of the most dangerous – seven racecar drivers have died attempting to finish since the race began.
The first race in 1916 saw the best time of 20 minutes and 55 seconds, but vehicles have come a long way and are leaving such times in the dust.
The event typically sees vehicles climb to the top of the summit, which is 14,115-feet-high, but due to ice and snow, the track was cut short this year.
The June 27 race saw a number of impressive vehicles compete to be named King of the Mountain.
The vehicle’s V8 engine was powered by the carmaker’s new 98RON Renewable racing biofuel that produces 85 percent less greenhouse gas than traditional gasoline
New Zealand’s Rhys Millen drove the Continental GT3 around the track that features more than 100 turns, and finished in six minutes and 36.281 seconds – the fourth fasted time
The UK’s Robin Shute took home the honor after crossing the finish line in a driving a Honda-powered 2018 Wolf GB08 TSC-LT race car at five minutes and 55.246 seconds.
Although Bentley did not take home the gold, its futuristic biofuel may have been the star of the show.
‘This is the first step on Bentley’s renewable fuel journey, and there will be many more opportunities to come,’ Paul Williams, Director of Motorsport at Bentley, said in a statement.
The modified GT3 also stood out with its sleek black finish and gold trim, along with its aerodynamics package that sees a 30 percent increase in overall downforce at sea level
The biggest rear wing ever fitted to a Bentley dominates the rear of the car, sitting above a highly efficient rear diffuser that surrounds the transaxle gearbox
‘Perhaps we’ll even come back to Pikes Peak next year.’
The modified GT3 also stood out with its sleek black finish and gold trim, along with its aerodynamics package that sees a 30 percent increase in overall downforce at sea level.
The biggest rear wing ever fitted to a Bentley dominates the rear of the car, sitting above a highly efficient rear diffuser that surrounds the transaxle gearbox.
Under the hood is the 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 road car engine that generates more than 750 horsepower and 1,000 Newton meters of torque at sea level.
The high performance engine places additional demands on the cooling system, and for Pikes Peak the engineering team developed a secondary cooling system that’s installed at the back of the car.
Air scoops replace the rear windows, and channel air through a secondary radiator that exhausts through ducts in the boot lid.
And the system runs via a dedicated secondary water pump.
Millen experienced an issue a few turns from the finish line when the boost pressure causing the car to lose power, CNET reports.
Millen experienced an issue a few turns from the finish line when the boost pressure causing the car to lose power
Although the GT3 finished fourth, it is being hailed the fastest car powered by renewable fuel at the 99th Pikes Peak Hill Climb
However, if the track was its traditional length , the GT3 would not have finished in fourth.
‘We know we had the pace today both to win our class and to break the Time Attack I record,’ Williams said.
‘Sadly, the weather wasn’t with us, with the shortened course meaning our assault on the record was never a possibility.’
Although the GT3 finished fourth, it is being hailed the fastest car powered by renewable fuel at the 99th Pikes Peak Hill Climb.
Millen, however, did finish second in the Time Attack 1 class, which includes modified and specialized production-based two and four-wheel drive vehicles.