When you go motor racing, you plan meticulously for success. ‘Luck’ is not a term to play with. But you know calamity must inevitably be taken in your stride. As the season reaches its crucial mid-way point, the twists and turns of the ultimate sports car racing series have tested the ethos of unpredictability to its fibres.
Bentley’s Team M-Sport is based at the Crewe factory, where the specially engineered Continental GT3 race cars are designed, constructed and maintained. While there are several ‘works-supported’ and privately-run Bentley teams following specific race calendars around the world, Naim supports the in-house brigade, whose cars and drivers contest the Blancpain GT Series.
This race schedule includes gruelling endurance races alongside shorter ‘sprint’ events, and team drivers include Steven Kane, Vince Abril, Andy Soucek, Maxime Soulet, Guy Smith and newcomer Oliver Jarvis – the spirit of the 1930s ‘Bentley Boys’ brought into the 21st century. They all take orders from Brian Gush, Bentley’s vastly experienced Director of Motorsport and mastermind of the team’s progress.