The Bentley name is set to join the Avon Tyres British GT Championship grid for the 2014 season following the announcement of the first customer team to run the new Bentley Continental GT3 in the series.
Run by David Appleby Engineering the team will run a single car under the guise of Generation Bentley Racing, the team helping to develop new driving and engineering talent while competing in the competitive British championship as well as potentially adding selected races in other series, taking advantage of the GT3 specifications wide ranging recognition.
Driving duties – at least in British GT – will be shared between James Appleby and Steve Tandy. Both men have experience of GT racing, Appleby, son of the team MD, having raced at GT4 Aston Martin on the European stage, being tipped as a star of the future by Aston Martin Racing. Tandy meanwhile has become one of the most dependable ‘gentlemen’ drivers on the British GT grid, starting the final race of both the 2012 and 2013 season in contention for the title after seasons with Trackspeed and 888Optimum Racing respectively.
“I am delighted that David and his team will be competing with the Continental GT3 in our home country in 2014,” said Bentley’s director of motorsport Brian Gush. ”The team has a wealth of experience and I’m confident that their energy and professionalism will see some very encouraging results next year. We’ll be supporting them every step of the way and I wish them every success in the British GT Championship.”
The Continental GT3, which debuted at last summer’s Goodwood Festival of Speed, is set for its first race later this week when a works run example takes on the Gulf 12 Hours at the Abu Dhabi Yas Marina circuit.
Generation Bentley Racing’s first race will be the Easter weekend races at Oulton Park that begin the British GT Championship.
