Bentley Races The Saudi Desert Train

We at The Gentleman Select love a feat of endurance and those who attempt “the impossible”. Eighty five years ago three time Le Mans winner captain Woolf Barnato, the namesake of a recent Bentley concept car and Breitling watch, accepted a wager that not only could he beat the Calais-mediterranee from Cannes to Calais in his Bentley, but that he could also be back at his club in London before the train even reached the English Channel. Unfortunately he didn’t attempt the latter part however the wager itself to Calais he won, and with 4 minutes to spare as well.

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Now fast forward to the present day and a scene which involved Bentley Team-M driver Steven Kane, the new Bentley Continental GT V8 S Convertible and the passion to reinvigorate and commemorate the legendary Bentley “Blue Train” run of 1930 with an intense 4 hour and 14 minute race against Saudi Arabia’s only desert passenger train. The Dune train takes a 480km route from Riyadh, deep through the Arabian desert, to Dammam on the Arabian gulf.

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The new Continental GT V8 S raced this special locomotive on August 15th this year were during the challenge, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was the hottest place on earth. Belting its way across the barren, scorched landscape, Steven and the car won with 6 minutes to spare, a wonderful achievement and a special car indeed.

Bentley's Desert Train race

Steven Kane of Bentley Team-M stated: “Four hours is the same time as a stint at Le Mans.  But this was far more stressful. The heat, the conditions, not knowing where the train was, while driving within the limits of the country’s regulations.   It was a race like no other. I hope Barnato would be proud.”

We tip the rim of our trilby hat to Steven and the chaps at Bentley on their awesome achievement.

A Look at the New Bentley Bentayga SUV

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Bentley this week revealed the information of their all new “sector defining” SUV: The Bentayga. The result of £840m investment made by Bentley since 2014, the Bentayga is undoubtedly the sector-defining car it claims to be. At the heart of each Bentayga, is a mighty twin-turbocharged 6.0-litre W12 engine providing a staggering 600bhp and 900Nm of torque. What this translates to is a 4.0 second 0-60 time, a top speed of 187mph, making the Bentayga the fastest and most powerful SUV in the world.

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Alongside the awesome power of the mighty Bentayga, a Bentley wouldn’t be a Bentley without exuding the best in modern British luxury. With 15 luxurious carpet options, seven different handcrafted veneers and 15 choices of interior trim hide, personalising your new Bentley couldn’t be easier! If you’re looking for a ready-made option, Bentley have countless lifestyle orientated packages including a package specifically geared for those who fancy some water sports, with a Load-Assist Tray and Wet Gear Stowage options.  Or if you’re not the water sports type, an  integrated Mulliner Hamper Set, complete with cooler, bespoke fine Linley china cutlery, crockery and crystal glass, and storage area for dry goods is also available. For the ultimate luxury in the great outdoors, sections of the hamper can be removed and used as seating.

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Perhaps our favourte addition to the new Bentayga, however, is the incredible Mulliner Tourbillion Dash Clock by Breitling – it’s important to note that Tourbillion watches typically retail for upwards of £50,000! A mechanical instrument like this is not often found in modern day vehicles, however the Bentley Bentayga has a dedicated winding mechanism to wind your tourbillion as you drive. This incredible bespoke option is available in both white and rose gold and with the choice of either white mother-of-pearl or ebony diamond dial.

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What’s more appealing is the fact that this mind-blowing feat of engineering is designed, engineered, and hand-crafted in Crewe, UK. And unlike many modern SUVs, the Bentayga is just as fun on rough terrain as it is on the open road. The development programme itself spanned an impressive five continents, making the Bentayga just as powerful and efficient on the muddy fields of Cheshire as it is on the dirt and gravel of South Africa, or even in the -30°C conditions of the Frozen North Cape.

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Chairman and chief executive of Bentley Motors, Wolfgang Dürheimer, comments: “The Bentayga is truly the Bentley of SUVs. It redefines luxury in the SUV sector and offers a genuine Bentley experience in any environment, thanks to a combination of unparalleled attention to detail, go-anywhere ability and cutting-edge technology.”.

We’d have to agree.

 

More at www.bentayga.bentleymotors.com