For the first time globally, a team will field both generations of Bentley’s Continental GT3 at the final round of the Fanatec GT World Challenge Australia powered by AWS on the streets of Adelaide.
Mike Bailey will re-join the class in Adelaide after business commitments have forced him to miss the majority of the season. He will have a newer specification Continental GT3 at his disposal, the first to compete in Australia since the 2020 LIQUI MOLY Bathurst 12 Hour of which it won in emotional circumstances.
A successful test held at Phillip Island concluded a frantic build up for Jordan Roddy’s Bespoke Motor Cars team to prepare the Bentley for its maiden outing on Australian soil.
M-Sport engineer James Allinson will be hand to provide support as Bailey his co-driver for Adelaide, former GT Trophy rival Brett Hobson in a Pro-Am combination.
Bailey will make his debut on the streets of Adelaide, while Hobson is vastly experienced in the venue having contested multiple Super2 rounds there previously, the last in 2015.
Although Bailey will be debuting a newer Bentley, his older specification version will not be sitting idle as leading Paynter Dixon Porsche Carrera Cup Australia Championship Am contender Matthew Belford will make his debut in GT Trophy.
The two Bentleys are the latest to confirm their spots in a stacked grid of GT cars for the Adelaide finale that will see three 40 minute races split between each day, deciding the second Fanatec GT World Challenge Australia powered by AWS title.
QUOTES
Mike Bailey
KMB Motorsport
“This Bentley was going to stay in Europe and do a lot of the tracks there, but due to my availability to travel out of Australia at the moment I’m going to be continuing over here,” said Bailey.
“I’m very much looking forward to racing in Adelaide. It was awesome to get in there and get familiar again. It’s got the auto clutch and there are a lot more buttons on the steering wheel than the previous version, so there’s a bit more software control.
“Jordan (Roddy) was able to get out of customs on Wednesday, so the crew have been going hammer and tongs to get it here.
“When I was racing Hobbo he kicked my arse, so I thought what better driver to get to join you!”
“Another friend, Matthew Belford called me to say he wanted to race in Adelaide and what did I suggest, so I said to take the Bentley out. He’s been really coming up to speed with his racing and has the same mentality as me.”
Brett Hobson
KMB Motorsport
“I’m really looking forward to getting there,” said Hobson.
“Obviously, the Bentley is a bit like the GT-R as it’s something that the fans love to follow and I think a lot of people want to see it on track, so we’re looking forward to getting to Adelaide to see how we go.
“The last time I was there was in 2015 driving Super2, but I love the track, atmosphere and I just can’t wait to get back there. And to swing this thing around, we’ll see how we go.
“I can’t thank everybody enough, Mike and all the guys, for getting us on the grid again.”