Skip advert
Advertisement

Bentley Bentayga takes aim at Pikes Peak SUV record

Bentley will attempt to break the Pikes Peak SUV hill climb record later this year with a lightly modified Bentayga W12

The Bentley Bentayga will face one of motorsport’s most challenging courses when it attempts to break the current SUV record at the Pikes Peak hill climb in Colorado, USA later this year. The current record is held by a Range Rover Sport and was set back in 2014.

Driven by Pikes Peak legend Rhys Millen, the lightly-tweaked Bentayga W12 will race up the hill in June – as part of the historic festival. Mullen is no stranger to victory, however, with 14 class victories and two overall victories to his name. By signing for the Brit-based manufacturer, Mullen becomes the seventh ‘Bentley Boy’; a term given to a small group of drivers who are contracted to race cars direct from the factory.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Best 4x4s and SUVs on sale 

The Bentayga will only have a few modifications before tackling the infamous course. A roll cage and bucket seat have both been installed, while 300kg of weight has been stripped from the near-2.5-tonne production SUV. While the roll cage and seat have been added to boost safety, the weight loss will have the biggest benefit to the Bentayga’s outright performance.

The final set-up is still being perfected by Millen and his team of Bentley engineers, with the car currently undergoing tweaks to the anti-roll bars and suspension. Millen has also increased the size of the paddle shifters of the eight-speed automatic gearbox, to make changing ratios easier on the hill.

The Pikes Peak course is notorious for its dramatic drops, hairpin turns and high altitude.  The course rises to over 14,000ft and requires Millen to use an oxygen mask to keep concentration levels at their peak.

The hill climb, dubbed ‘Race to the Clouds’, has claimed the lives of six racers throughout its history, with the last death recorded in 2015 when Carl Sorensen crashed over the edge on his motorcycle.

Check out Volkswagen's all-electric I.D. R Pikes Peak challenger right here...

Skip advert
Advertisement

Find a car with the experts

Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

Best luxury SUVs 2025
Best luxury SUVs - header image

Best luxury SUVs 2025

Luxury SUVs combine the sophistication of a luxury car with the sheer practicality of an SUV. Here’s our pick of the current crop…
Best cars & vans
23 Jan 2025
New Bentley Bentayga flagship to arrive next year with plenty more power
Bentley Bentayga V8 S - front

New Bentley Bentayga flagship to arrive next year with plenty more power

Bentley is working on a high-performance variant of its Bentayga SUV packing a high-grade turbo V8
News
20 Nov 2024
New Bentley Bentayga Apex Edition by Mulliner is as exclusive as SUVs come
Bentley Bentayga Apex Edition - front action

New Bentley Bentayga Apex Edition by Mulliner is as exclusive as SUVs come

You can only buy this one-of-20 Bentayga if you’ve already got a Continental GT Le Mans Edition…
News
29 Apr 2024
Bentley Bentayga S Black Edition SUV aims to combine a lot of luxury with a little sportiness
Bentley Bentayga S Black Edition - front

Bentley Bentayga S Black Edition SUV aims to combine a lot of luxury with a little sportiness

This Bentayga has a feature not seen on a Bentley for 105 years
News
9 Apr 2024

Most Popular

It’s not just electric cars that are overpriced
Opinion - expensive cars

It’s not just electric cars that are overpriced

Not matter how good a new car might be, Mike Rutherford thinks it will ultimately fail if it's overpriced
Opinion
16 Feb 2025
New Kia EV4 revealed at last! Volkswagen ID.3 rival incoming
Kia EV4 saloon - front

New Kia EV4 revealed at last! Volkswagen ID.3 rival incoming

First official images of Kia’s electric family car have surfaced, and it looks all but identical to the concept
News
16 Feb 2025
New Nissan Leaf and Micra confirmed for 2025, plus next-generation hybrid tech for Qashqai
New Nissan Leaf - front 3/4

New Nissan Leaf and Micra confirmed for 2025, plus next-generation hybrid tech for Qashqai

Nissan’s big plans for 2025 may also include a new plug-in hybrid system for the X-Trail
News
17 Feb 2025