•Bentley Team HTP takes Blancpain Sprint Series drivers title•Maxi Buhk and Vincent Abril crowned champions
he Bentley Continental GT3 has won its first major race car championship, as customer team Bentley Team HTP took the Blancpain Sprint Series drivers title following a pole position and two race victories at the final round at Zandvoort this weekend.
Just two years after the Bentley Continental GT3 was launched, drivers Maxi Buhk (DE) and Vincent Abril (MO) fought off stiff competition from the 2014 championship-winning Audi, to take one of the most sought-after titles in GT3 racing.
"This is a fantastic achievement for Bentley Team HTP with the Bentley Continental GT3," commented Bentley's Director of Motorsport Brian Gush. "The Blancpain Sprint Series is very competitive and there is no room for error. Maxi and Vincent with Bentley Team HTP have been the perfect team to take our race car to success.”
Bentley Team HTP, which under the name HTP Motorsport enjoyed multiple GT3 successes over the past five years, joined forces with Bentley Motorsport at the start of 2015 and entered cars in the Blancpain GT Series, which comprises both the Sprint and Endurance championships.
“The title belongs to the entire team, each and every one can be very proud“, said Norbert Brückner, Bentley Team HTP Team Principal. “We worked extremely hard this year and this is the well-deserved pay-off for the entire crew. This title makes our inaugural season with Bentley perfect. We can be really proud about this achievement and it will be a great incentive for the coming season.”
The Bentley Continental GT3 narrowly missed out on the Blancpain Endurance Series title last month, when Bentley Team M-Sport took second place by a narrow margin of three points in both the team and driver championships.
The race car is based on Bentley's road-going Continental GT, the iconic British brand’s most successful road car and the definitive Grand Tourer.
The Bentley Continental GT3 will next race in the GT Asia series at Chang International Circuit in Thailand on 23-25 October with Bentley Team Absolute Racing.
Driver Quotes
Maxi Buhk: “I am very happy that we have won the championship. It’s not normal to have a clean sweep like this - with pole, two race wins and fastest laps. Being a champion with Bentley feels incredible and I’m already looking for my next challenge with the team.”
Vincent Abril: “I’m feeling blessed to be part of such an amazing team and to win for such a prestigious brand as Bentley makes it even more special. Thanks to Bentley Team HTP and Maxi Buhk. This season has been such an amazing one!”
