Continental 24: Bentley's Nurburgring homage

Bentley is gearing up to compete at the gruelling Nurburgring 24h race next weekend. To celebrate its entry into the event, the company has launched a limited-edition Continental 24.

Limited to a run of just 24 examples, the Continental 24 is based on the hardcore SuperSports version of the GT car. It takes several interior and exterior design cues from the company's GT3 racer.

While the race car has a yellow front end that blends into black at the rear, the road-going Continental 24 has a black body with either a bold yellow or red bonnet, roof and boot. Bentley says customers can choose a single external colour "at no extra cost".

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A set of Continental 24 stickers are placed above the car's skirts on either side. These are available in either red or yellow if customers choose a two-tone vehicle.

Inside, Bentley has covered the car's centre console and dashboard in carbon fibre, says AutoExpress, as well as the door panels and footplates.

"Each seat is diamond quilted Alcantara" and the headrests are embroidered with the Continental 24 emblem, the magazine says. Those who spec their car in a two-tone colour scheme will get red or yellow highlights around the cabin, too.

Under the bonnet sits the same 700bhp 6.0-litre W12 engine as the SuperSports. It's powerful enough to launch the Continental 24 from zero to 62mph in 3.5secs and on to a top speed of 209mph.

Buyers will also get the SuperSport's torque vectoring technology. It's a system that individually brakes each wheel when going round a corner to optimise traction and grip.

The Continental 24 will go on sale for €250,000 (£216,000). The price is around £50,000 more than a base-model W12-engined GT.

Bentley will field three Continental GT3 cars at the Nurburgring 24h, which runs from 25 to 28 May.