Bentley, a brand synonymous with refined elegance and luxurious comfort, recently ventured into an unexpected realm: the rugged world of rally driving. At the DirtFish rally school in Snoqualmie, Washington, a collection of Bentleys, including the Bentayga SUV and Continental GT, defied their traditional image by tackling demanding gravel courses. This unique event, initiated by the Fields Auto Group, aimed to demonstrate the potent capabilities of these high-performance vehicles in a low-traction setting, ultimately redefining perceptions of luxury automobile versatility.
For decades, Bentley has meticulously cultivated an aura of sophistication, evoking images of tweed-clad owners amidst grand English estates. The very idea of these opulent machines sliding sideways on dirt tracks might seem incongruous, yet this is precisely what unfolded at DirtFish. The venue, a former lumber mill in the Pacific Northwest, is renowned for its rally driving instruction, typically employing Subarus like the WRX STI and BRZ for teaching high-grip and drifting techniques. However, for a special one-day event, the formidable powerplants and all-wheel-drive systems of the Bentleys were unleashed on the gravel, proving their unexpected prowess.
The genesis of this unconventional gathering stemmed from a proposal by Chloe from the Fields Auto group, which represents several luxury brands. Her suggestion to expose Bentley owners to the thrill of off-road driving was initially met with disbelief by DirtFish's head of strategy, Josie Rimmer. Rimmer recounted her initial reaction, considering it an early April Fool's joke, but acknowledged Chloe's earnestness. This experience, Rimmer noted, profoundly altered her understanding of what a luxury vehicle could truly achieve, especially when confronted with the demands of rally conditions.
Observing Bentaygas joyfully navigating through wooded tracks, spitting gravel with the vigor of World Rally Championship cars, brought a fresh appreciation for the Bentley brand's engineering. Even the large Continental GT coupes and convertibles demonstrated remarkable control, executing controlled slides on the loose surfaces. Brenten Kelly, a DirtFish instructor and head of brand, expressed his astonishment. He highlighted that while the power was anticipated, the handling of the Bentley Continental GTC was particularly impressive. He noted that the car's controls allowed for extended, manageable slides on gravel, especially in sport mode with traction control disengaged.
It is highly probable that these meticulously cleaned and polished Bentleys will typically encounter no greater challenge than a Seattle highway on-ramp for the remainder of their operational lives. Nevertheless, for one memorable day, they were afforded the opportunity to engage in a spirited, muddy wrestling match with the terrain. This extraordinary display of capability and resilience undoubtedly would have earned the hearty approval of figures like Woolf Barnato, a legendary "Bentley Boy" known for his audacious motoring adventures.
