Kankkunen Breaks World Ice Speed Record with Bentley Continental SuperSports

[Bartek S.]

[From Bentley Press Release]



JUHA KANKKUNEN: BRIEF CV

• Juha Matti Pellervo Kankkunen, born 1959 in Laukaa, Finland
• One of the most experienced rally drivers of all times
• Four times rally World Champion (1986, 1987, 1991, 1993)
• 23 times World Rally Winner
• Started his career in 1978
• First World Rally win in 1985 (Safari Rally)
• Won Dakar Rally in 1988
• World ice speed record in 2007, in a Bentley Continental GT

HISTORY OF WORLD ICE SPEED RECORDS

• 2011: Bentley Continental Supersports convertible: 205.48 mph (330.695 km/h) driven by Juha Kankkunen
• 2007: Bentley Continental GT: 199.83 mph (321.6 km/h) driven by Juha Kankkunen
• 1995: Bugatti EB110 Supersport: 184 mph (296 km/h)

BENTLEY’S EARLY HISTORY OF RECORD BREAKING

• 1924: John Duff in a Bentley 3-litre took records at Brooklands between 87mph (139.7 km/h) and 93 mph (149.3 km/h) and a Double-Twelve race victory at 86.69 mph (139.2 km/h)
• 1925: A Bentley 3-litre established a 24-hrs record at Montlhery at an average speed of 95 mph (152.9 km/h).
• 1927: The 24-hrs Grand Prix de Paris at Montlhery was won by a Bentley 41/2 –litre at an average speed of 52.5 mph (84.5 km/h)
• 1928: A Bentley 3-litre driven by Dudley Froy became the first car to average more than 115 mph (185.1 km/h) over a distance of 100 miles (160.9 km) at Brooklands
• 1929: Mrs Victor Bruce drove solo in a Bentley 41/2-litre at Montlhery to set a Class C record at over 89mph (143.2 km/h)
• 1932: Tim Birkin in a Birkin blower single seater broke the Brooklands Outer Circuit lap record with a speed of 137.96 mph (221.47 km/h)
• 1934: Walter Hassan in a Barnato – Hassan single seater set a new Brooklands Outer Circuit record of 142.6 mph (228.9 km/h). It achieved a faster lap time of 143.11 mph (230.3 km).

Kankkunen Breaks World Ice Speed Record with Bentley Continental SuperSports - Carscoop

 

[bum-man]

This is like the midget tossing of land speed records...I suppose congratulations is in place for VAG??

 

[ateekt]

Impressive! They did it with a convertible? Imo, a coupe could have done better. Time to shred some powder on Veyron now!!

 

[MikeJ]

Impressive! They did it with a convertible? Imo, a coupe could have done better. Time to shred some powder on Veyron now!!

Maybe they wanted to prove that Bentley convertibles are suitable for winter use as well, even at -30°C... It's been a really cold few days here, but apparently it didn't stop these guys from venturing onto the ice.

 

[Mr Robert]

I should have walked out there