Bentley Motorsport will once again take on one of the biggest challenges in motor racing in 2017 as it returns to contest the Nürburgring 24 Hours with its European partner team Bentley Team ABT and a pair of Continental GT3s.
Building on the success of last year’s campaign, Bentley Team ABT’s Nürburgring drivers Chris Brück (DE), Christer Jöns (DE) and Christian Menzel (DE) will return alongside the team’s GT Masters graduate Jordan Pepper (SA). New-comers to the team Nico Verdonck (BE) and 2014 race-winner Christian Mamerow (DE) will round-out the line-up.
In preparation for the event, which sees around 180 cars tackle the 21km-long Nürburgring Nordschleife in some of the most unpredictable and extreme weather conditions, Bentley Team ABT will enter the first two rounds of the VLN series, as well as the Nürburgring 24 Hours qualifying race.
“Last year, in just our second attempt at Nürburgring 24 Hours, we finished in seventh place, which was well inside our top-ten target,” comments Bentley’s Director of Motorsport, Brian Gush. “This year, we aim to go even higher and we are in good position to do so thanks to the strong working relationship between ABT Sportsline and Bentley Motorsport.
“We are pleased to see that ABT Sportsline has retained some of the 2016 squad, while adding three very competent drivers and we look forward to working with them this season.”
Driver quotes:
Christian Mamerow: “I’m really excited to represent Bentley and the Team ABT at the Nürburgring Nordschleife. I know how hard it is and how much team effort it takes to win the 24h race and a dream would come true if I could win it again after my first win in 2014.”
Nico Verdonck: “Driving with Bentley is an honour and I’m very proud to be associated with this iconic brand. I’m extremely motivated to work with Bentley Team ABT and believe that the combination of the team and the Continental GT3 will lead to great success on track.’
Jordan Pepper: “Firstly, I would like to thank the whole ABT Sportsline team, as well as everyone from Bentley who has given me this opportunity. It has always been a dream of mine to compete in a 24-hour race. To be competing at the Nürburgring in a Bentley Continental GT3, with such an experienced team and teammates, and factory support from Bentley, is the best opportunity in the world. The hard work starts now, since I have a lot to learn in a short space of time, but I have the right people around me to make sure I can do the best job possible.”
