Wednesday 16th February 2011

Bentley Takes Ice Driving Record Beyond 200mph

Continental GT Supersports (with one Juha Kankkunen at the wheel) sets new record for ice driving

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A Bentley Continental Supersports Convertible has broken the 200mph barrier. On its own, this doesn't sound like headline news, but this was on ice, setting a new land speed record of 205.48mph in the process.

Of course, to do three-and-a-bit miles per minute on ice, you're going to want a fairly experienced hand behind the wheel. Fortunately, Bentley had Finnish four-times World Rally Champion Juha Kankkunen on hand. Convenient.

"200mph came up after 5km on sheet ice," says Juha, nonchalantly. "Then it was just a question of getting everything right in the timing zone and hoping the snow kept away. There's nothing to beat driving a Bentley at these speeds; the conditions may be perilous but the car responds so well to the slightest adjustment which gives you the confidence to push even harder."

In cracking the 200mph barrier on ice, Kankkunen actually beat his own previous record, set in a Continental GT coupe back in 2007 at 199.83mph. Before that, the previous record was 184mph, was set in 1995 in a Bugatti EB110 Supersport.

Oh, and to emphasise its green cred, Bentley did the whole thing using E85 bioethanol fuel (though we're sure the fact that E85 also has a higher octane rating than conventional petrol had nothing at all to do with it...).

 

[wab172uk]

Why?

[Biker's Nemesis]

The Americans can put men on the Moon. We on the other hand hold a Ice driving record in a Bentley.

[[AJ]]

Biker's Nemesis said:

The Americans can put men on the Moon.

So they say!

Biker's Nemesis said:

We on the other hand hold a Ice driving record in a Bentley.

And we're soon to be the fastest people on earth yet again. Nothing to be ashamed of that. Besides, imagine our taxes if our little nation had to fund an overt space program. We'll just let our engineers help the US get the credit for that.

[Pixel Pusher]

Triffic!

Now do it on slicks wearing a blindfold.

[wackojacko]

if my eyes serve my right on this small iPhone screen ...... That's a soft top !

Awesome achievement Bentley

[M666 EVO]

Good to see the Leg End that is Juha whotisface is still getting involved.

Nice work fella.

[Turbobanana]

wackojacko said:

if my eyes serve my right on this small iPhone screen ...... That's a soft top !

Awesome achievement Bentley

For a really tenuous record, why not go for Top Down Ice Speed Record in a Woolly Sweater, Hat & Scarf?

It is Open Season after all, right?

[don logan]

Tyres?

[Pixel Pusher]

don logan said:

Tyres?

Yep, it had them.

[blunder13]

What was the stopping distance like??

[gary71]

don logan said:

Tyres?

Winters of course

Pirelli Winter Sottozeros

[jamespink]

What a wonderfuly rarified world they inhabit! Big team, car, spares, transport, timing gear, hotels, flights. They doubtless did it all for less than a grand! It must be such fun actualy getting paid to do this stuff. Gloriously irelevant but what the hey...

[Munich]

Why the Cabrio?

[Pixel Pusher]

Munich said:

Why the Cabrio?

I wondered that. Surely the hard top would have better drag figures? His previous attempt was in a Coupe.

[chazwozza]

Love it. Very british thing to do. When will someone think of doing it in the Veyron though and smashing the record, or will the tyres hold it back??

[christofmccracke]

I have a friend with a gtc and he said its fantastic in the snow, its just when u hit ice your fooked cos the cars so heavy

[jake15919]

Munich said:

Why the Cabrio?

Just a guess but I think it was the only way of squeezing a mega beefy roll cage in.

Also the car just doesn't look right. Is it really a standard car or is there a hint of silhouette going on.

[dele]

wab172uk said:

Why?

Why not

[Oddball RS]

A story for everyone, ice (Glacial) on the one hand for the greenies, and how to melt it further for the petrolheads............

[sprinter1050]

wackojacko said:

if my eyes serve my right on this small iPhone screen ...... That's a soft top !

Awesome achievement Bentley

Is that some sort of record also for a soft top ?

I thought somebody else had tried over 200 in a soft top but not quite done as well ?