Bentley continental may need become more of a luxury thing, however it is a car able to extraordinary performance. And it’s not only on normal roads, they simply proved it is only as fast on ice! They set a brand new world speed record on sheet ice at 205.48 mph (330.695 km/h), using a Continental SuperSports Convertible.

For this job they needed an infinite area covered with a thick layer of ice. So that they went to frozen waters of the Baltic Sea, off the coast of Finland. Fortunately for them, Finland is likewise where the area’s’� best drivers leave.

So they connected four-time world rally champion Juha Kankkunen and he drove the all-wheel drive, 6-litre, 12-cylinder Continental Supersports convertible which, in step with the Company’s CO2 strategy, ran on biofuel, to reach that astonishing record. He broke his own 2007 world ice speed record of 199.83 mph (321.6 km/h) set inside the Continental GT on the same location.

Some of the challenges he and the team faced included temperatures as little as minus 30 degrees, sudden snow blizzards and potentially dangerous crosswinds at 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 rate certified by officials from the Finland Traffic Police. His new world record was in keeping with the common of 2 runs in opposite directions with measured speeds ratified by a representative of The Guinness Book of Records.”The last time, I narrowly missed the mystical 200 mph mark in a Continental GT. Once I heard in regards to the Supersports i used to be determined to move 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 fitting car to move for the record. ” Kankkunen said.

“200mph came up after 5km on sheet ice. Then it was only a question of having everything right within the timing zone and hoping the snow kept away. There’s nothing to overcome driving a Bentley at these speeds; the conditions will be perilous however the car responds so well to the slightest adjustment which supplies you the arrogance to push even harder.”

As with the former record-breaking drive within the Continental GT the Anglo-Finnish team used a car with minimum modification. a completely-welded, heavy-duty safety roll-cage, together 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 at the treacherous surface.

To highlight Bentley’s environmental commitment to sustainable fuel sources, Kankkunen’s Supersports Convertible was fuelled with E85 bioethanol instead of petrol (gasoline). All models within the Continental range are able to running on petrol (gasoline), E85 bioethanol or any combination of both.

Wolfgang D�rheimer, Bentley’s new Chairman and Chief Executive, said:

“The ice speed record is an excellent feat by Juha Kankkunen, whose skill and courage in extreme conditions truly make him one of several modern-day Bentley Boys. We’ll be celebrating this achievement with a totally special ‘extreme’ Bentley, for you to be the strongest model ever to bear the famed Winged B emblem.”