Man drives Bentley Continental Supersports Convertible to 205 mph… on ice
Most of us here in the Northeast know what it’s like to drive on ice – it’s quite dangerous, annoying and tricky. Not for Juha Kankkunen. The four-time rally champion recently drove a Bentley Continental Supersports Convertible on the frozen waters of the Baltic Sea, off the coast of Finland, to a eye-watering top speed of 205.48 mph.
Kankkunen ended up breaking his own 2007 world ice speed record of 199.83 mph.
“The last time, I narrowly missed the magical 200 mph mark in a Continental GT. When I heard about the Supersports I was determined to go record breaking again with the Bentley Boys. This time, with over 600bhp under the bonnet, a Quickshift transmission and the security of the all-wheel drive system, the Supersports convertible was the perfect car to go for the record. ” Kankkunen said.
Kankkunen’s record was based on the average of two runs in opposite directions and made official by a representative of The Guinness Book of Records.
Refresher: Power for the Bentley Continental Supersports Convertible comes from a 6.0L W12 twin-turbocharged engine producing 621-hp with a maximum torque of 590 lb-ft. Mated to ZF 6-speed Quickshift automatic gearbox, the Continental Supersports Convertible goes from 0-60 mph in 3.9 seconds with a top speed of 202 mph. The Continental Supersports Convertible is flex-fuel capable, meaning it can run on either gasoline or E85 ethanol.
Kankkunen’s 205 mph ice speed run Bentley Continental Supersports Convertible:
2011 Bentley Continental Supersports Convertible:
Press Release:
BENTLEY SUPERSPORTS SHATTERS WORLD SPEED RECORD ON SHEET ICE
Rally champion, Juha Kankkunen achieves 205.48 mph (330.695 km/h) in extreme Bentley convertible
(Oulu, Finland. 15 February 2011) Finland’s four-time world rally champion Juha Kankkunen drove a Bentley Continental Supersports convertible on the hazardous frozen waters of the Baltic Sea, off the coast of Finland, at a breathtaking 205.48 mph (330.695 km/h) to set a new world speed record on ice.
Kankkunen was in irresistible form with his all-wheel drive, 6-litre, 12-cylinder Continental Supersports convertible which, in line with the Company’s CO2 strategy, ran on biofuel. The world’s fastest soft top enabled Juha to shatter his own 2007 world ice speed record of 199.83 mph (321.6 km/h) set in the Continental GT at the same location.
With the help of his own experienced team and Bentley engineers, Kankkunen overcame the challenges of temperatures as low as minus 30 degrees, sudden snow blizzards and potentially dangerous crosswinds on the 16.5km track on a 70cm-thick layer of sea ice. The record attempt was driven on a 1000m long measured distance with the speed certified by officials from the Finland Traffic Police. His new world record was based on the average of two runs in opposite directions with measured speeds ratified by a representative of The Guinness Book of Records.
“200mph came up after 5km on sheet ice. 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,” Kankkunen said.
As with the previous record-breaking drive in the Continental GT the Anglo-Finnish team used a car with minimum modification. A fully-welded, heavy-duty safety roll-cage, along with Pirelli winter tyres (Pirelli SottoZero II 275/40R20) and a rear bumper-mounted parachute provided reassurance in case of an emergency. Front and rear spoilers provided optimum high speed stability on the treacherous surface.
To highlight Bentley’s environmental commitment to sustainable fuel sources, Kankkunen’s Supersports Convertible was fuelled with E85 bioethanol rather than petrol (gasoline). All models in the Continental range are capable of running on petrol (gasoline), E85 bioethanol or any combination of the two.
Wolfgang Dürheimer, Bentley’s new Chairman and Chief Executive, said:
“The ice speed record is an amazing feat by Juha Kankkunen, whose skill and courage in extreme conditions truly make him one of the modern-day Bentley Boys. We will be celebrating this achievement with a very special ‘extreme’ Bentley, which will be the most powerful model ever to bear the famed Winged B emblem.”
A limited edition of just 100 examples of this most extreme Bentley will be made and the car will make its global debut at the Geneva Motor Show on 1st March.
BREITLING FOR BENTLEY – ‘Instruments for Professionals’ and brand partner of Bentley Motors for the provision of specialist timing equipment.
JEFF GREEN – specialised warm weather clothing for all technicians and engineers.
PERFORMANCE AND PROTECTION – manufacturer of advanced roll cages for health and safety and motorsport applications since 1989.
IOGEN CORPORATION – E85 Bioethanol supplier.
JUHA KANKKUNEN: BRIEF CV
* Juha Matti Pellervo Kankkunen, born 1959 in Laukaa, Finland
* One of the most experienced rally drivers of all times
* Four times rally World Champion (1986, 1987, 1991, 1993)
* 23 times World Rally Winner
* Started his career in 1978
* First World Rally win in 1985 (Safari Rally)
* Won Dakar Rally in 1988
* World ice speed record in 2007, in a Bentley Continental GT
HISTORY OF WORLD ICE SPEED RECORDS
* 2011: Bentley Continental Supersports convertible: 205.48 mph (330.695 km/h) driven by Juha Kankkunen
* 2007: Bentley Continental GT: 199.83 mph (321.6 km/h) driven by Juha Kankkunen
* 1995: Bugatti EB110 Supersport: 184 mph (296 km/h)
BENTLEY’S EARLY HISTORY OF RECORD BREAKING
* 1924: John Duff in a Bentley 3-litre took records at Brooklands between 87mph (139.7 km/h) and 93 mph (149.3 km/h) and a Double-Twelve race victory at 86.69 mph (139.2 km/h)
* 1925: A Bentley 3-litre established a 24-hrs record at Montlhery at an average speed of 95 mph (152.9 km/h).
* 1927: The 24-hrs Grand Prix de Paris at Montlhery was won by a Bentley 41/2 –litre at an average speed of 52.5 mph (84.5 km/h)
* 1928: A Bentley 3-litre driven by Dudley Froy became the first car to average more than 115 mph (185.1 km/h) over a distance of 100 miles (160.9 km) at Brooklands
* 1929: Mrs Victor Bruce drove solo in a Bentley 41/2-litre at Montlhery to set a Class C record at over 89mph (143.2 km/h)
* 1932: Tim Birkin in a Birkin blower single seater broke the Brooklands Outer Circuit lap record with a speed of 137.96 mph (221.47 km/h)
* 1934: Walter Hassan in a Barnato – Hassan single seater set a new Brooklands Outer Circuit record of 142.6 mph (228.9 km/h). It achieved a faster lap time of 143.11 mph (230.3 km).
– By: Omar Rana
