BENTLEY CELEBRATES SEASON FINALE WITH TWO CHAMPIONSHIP SECOND PLACES (FOTO)

Crewe (ots) -

- Cross-reference: Picture is available at
http://www.presseportal.de/galerie.htx?type=obs -

- Team M-Sport Bentley finishes 2nd in Blancpain Endurance Series
- Bentley Boys Smith, Kane & Meyrick finish 2nd in Drivers'
Championship
- Tough race sees Continental GT3 finish 5th and 7th in class
- Successful end to debut season for Continental GT3 (Crewe, 22nd
September 2014)

Bentley Motorsport and technical partner M-Sport celebrate the
conclusion of the 2014 Blancpain Endurance Series by securing second
place in both the Team and Drivers Championships with a strong
performance in very tough conditions at the iRacing.com Nürburgring
1000 km. Battling through torrential rain to finish 8th and 12th
overall, and 5th and 7th in class, the performance of the
Continental GT3s and their drivers resulted in two championship
runner-up results in the team and car's debut season. Starting the
race weekend in joint second in the Teams Championship and third in
the Drivers, the team knew that they would have to fight hard to
improve their standing. The challenge was made harder by torrential
rain for the first four hours of the six-hour race, which saw the
Bentleys slip back from their starting positions but then recover
well as the track dried. Bentley's Member of the Board for
Engineering, Rolf Frech, comments:

"I am delighted that we fought so hard today and scored two great
championship results. The weather made it very difficult for us, but
the drivers and mechanics did an outstanding job and the championship
silverware is the right reward for their hard work over the season.
For us to finish second in our debut season, with a brand new car, is
an achievement that I am very proud of. On behalf of the team, I'd
like to congratulate Belgian Audi Club Team WRT and Laurens Vanthoor
for their impressive win today and their victory in the championship.
Hopefully we can be back to resume the fight next year!"
With two wins over the course of the season, including an historic
win at Silverstone, the home of British motorsport, the team of Guy
Smith, Andy Meyrick and Steven Kane in the #7 Continental GT3 were in
contention for the title but ultimately were delighted to be
runners-up with the new car. Guy Smith comments:

"Finishing so well in the championship feels fantastic, but we
were really made to work for it today. My two-hour stint at the start
was one of the toughest I've ever driven - the track was soaked,
everyone was struggling for grip and we didn't have the perfect
setup. However, we managed to stay in contention and Andy and Steven
drove great stints to score us the vital 12 points for fifth in
class. The result for the Team Championship is definitely the most
satisfying - the team have given us a fantastic race car this year
and I'm so happy that we could give them something in return."

Bentley Boy Andy Meyrick drove the second stint while the rain
continued to fall, and reflects:

"We knew today would be difficult, but the conditions on the track
exceeded even those expectations. Guy did a great job keeping us in
the top ten before he handed the car to me, and while I was happy
enough with my speed on track I had a spin and a really unfortunate
drive-through penalty which hampered my progress. As with every race
though, we got great strategy from the pit wall we recovered really
well, and the reward is two championship trophies."

Steven Kane finished the race for #7 team, with an on-track pass
in the last 30 minutes that proved vital:

"I was lucky enough to get to drive the car on a drying track, and
at the mid-point of my stint we made the call to switch to slicks.
The car was instantly one of the fastest on the track, and I could
push hard to chase down the Triple Eight car that was ahead of me. It
was only after I got past him that the team told that it was his
fifth-in-class place that we needed to secure second place in the
championship! It's been a phenomenal season and I'm looking forward
to celebrating."

Bentley Motorsport now starts its preparation for the 2015 season,
details of which will be announced in due course.

Press Contact:
Mike Sayer
Product and Motorsport Communications Manager
mike.sayer@bentley.co.uk
+44(0)7507 846782

Andrea Baker
Head of Media Communications
andrea.baker@bentley.co.uk
+44(0)7415 499252

Bentley Motors Ltd
Pyms Lane
Crewe
CW1 3PL

www.bentleymedia.com
communications@bentley.co.uk
@BentleyComms