Mobility

It's Goodwood o'clock: Bentley sets the timer for the future

Hay bales are a permanent fixture at the Festival of Speed in Goodwood - in case someone runs out of room in the bend. But you can also do completely different things with them. Bentley has demonstrated this in the long term and used the festival to look ahead to its future. We thought that was quite nice.

  • Text und Bilder:
    Marko Knab · ramp.pictures

Every year in mid-July, time seems to run backwards in the courtyard of Goodwood House in the south-west of England. Which, of course, is not the truth, only the truth as it is felt. But if the Festival of Speed is about something? Then it is above all feelings. More precisely: feelings of happiness that historic vehicles and modern supercars evoke in petrolheads. Bentley has made it its business to keep these sensations alive. Also in the future. Just like its own classic vehicles, a modern idea of luxury - all paired with good design, of course.

Every year in mid-July, time seems to run backwards in the courtyard of Goodwood House in the south-west of England. Which, of course, is not the truth, only the truth as it is felt.

The British manufacturer showed us how this can work in an increasingly electrified future and how to take its own history into the future at this year's edition of the "Festival of Speed". With a brand new Speed Six built according to original plans from the early 20th century, with sustainable and hay-derived bio-fuel and a parade celebrating the in-house W12 engine. Also in attendance: the new Bentley Mulliner Batur, which also made its dynamic UK debut on the Hillclimb Course.

The most powerful Bentley ever built with the iconic British drive only needed a good 55 seconds to reach the finish line. Fired by the aforementioned second-generation biofuel, which already offers 85 percent CO2 savings. The brand from Crewe has committed itself to electrification from 2025 onwards, but in this way it wants to ensure that historic and current models can also continue to be operated in the future.

How serious they actually are became clear even before the official festival programme - when a Bentayga EWB hauled 2.5 tonnes of hay bales up the course. Corresponding to the amount of energy that could power the vehicle for a good 1770 kilometres.

Which, by the way, would have been enough to cover more than half the distance that the Bentley Speed Six, victorious in 1930, had covered in the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Bentley has made it its mission to keep these sensations alive. Also in the future.

So it was only fitting that the most successful Bentley racing car ever celebrated its resurrection at the "Festival of Speed": As the first factory Speed Six in 93 years, the so-called "Car Zero" made its debut at Goodwood and transported visitors back to the 1920s and 1930s. As the development car of the "Speed Six Continuation Series", it will be the basis for a total of twelve customer cars and another factory racing car.

And it also proves the old adage that there is no future without a past. What Bentley has known for a long time, of course, but what they have shown us once again at Goodwood in a wonderfully lasting way.

Marko Knab

Marko Knab

Journalist & Photographer
Life writes the best stories - and Marko Knab tells them in text and picture form. His focus: people & their very own stories and cars, motorsports and travel stories. He already worked for Motorsport-Total.com while completing his Bachelor's degree in German Language, followed by a brief stint at a local daily newspaper and a Master's degree in literature and cultural theory - and ramp.

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