One of the World’s Most Historic Carmakers Is Reinventing Itself for a New Generation

Bentley is on its way to reinventing itself for enthusiasts in more unexpected ways than one.

White sports car with black geometric decals performing a burnout, creating thick smoke indoors.

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Published January 27, 2026

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Updated February 2, 2026

When most people think of Bentley, the image of lots of white hair, fancy Savile Row suits, Grey Poupon and pacemakers tends to accompany its fastidiously luxurious automobiles. But the iconic Flying B is looking to change that and reconnect with its heritage for performance and motorsports, in a very big way.

Bentley recently released a video featuring the legend himself, Mr. Travis Pastrana. Of course, Pastrana isn’t just standing around the new Continental GT Supersports — one of our 2025 GP100 winners — and looking pretty.

Rather, Pastrana does the unthinkable and goes gymkhana in a purpose-built example. It’s as glorious as it sounds.

A foundation rooted in motorsports

Six men in suits standing beside four vintage race cars with visible license plates in front of a brick building. — The “Bentley Blower” is one of the automaker’s first and most historically significant racecars.

Bentley Motors is one of the world’s oldest and most iconic automakers. But more so, it’s one with an incredibly rich history in motorsports.

Established in 1919, the British automaker made a name for itself in racing, where it was an absolute tour de force. But believe it or not, its first major competition wasn’t on is home turf. Rather, it was at the 1922 Indianapolis 500, where it competed with a whole bunch of custom-built Duesenbergs.

Five vintage open-top racing cars in various colors parked on a paved area near a beach. — Bentley’s prewar era mainly consisted of custom-built racecars.

Although Bentley finished in 13th place out of 19 competitors, it still put the brand on the map when motorsports was a growing international spectacle.

Throughout its prewar history, Bentley continued racing to build a name for itself. In between, Rolls-Royce stepped in and joined forces in 1919.

Vintage black-and-white photo of two early 20th-century race cars driving on a tree-lined dirt road with spectators behind fences on both sides. — One of Bentley’s most iconic historic races was the 1930 24 Hours of Le Mans, as seen here on the Mulsanne Straight.

But then, international conflicts surrounding the proliferation of Nazi Germany began nudging Bentley and Rolls-Royce towards wartime manufacturing efforts. And somewhere in that period, leading up to Britain’s involvement in World War II, Bentley’s motorsports efforts got left behind.

It wouldn’t be until after World War II that Bentley would start making cars again.

Shaking off its antiquated past

Black vintage luxury car parked on a gravel path surrounded by trees and desert plants. — After World War II, Bentley dedicated itself to building luxury cars.

In the 1950s, Bentley rebooted its car manufacturing efforts by making rolling chassis frames for coachbuilt luxury cars. It was around this time that Bentley also started establishing itself as a purveyor of world-class-leading high-end motorcars.

Silver classic luxury sedan driving on a rural road with grassy hills and cloudy sky in the background. — The Bentley T Series is one of the most recognizable models of all time.

Throughout its postwar growth, Bentley became synonymous with and a symbol of wealth and “old money.” This was particularly true with some of its large and and in-charge luxury sedans and limousines, which eventually became pinnacles for luxury and unbridled comfort.

But discreetly in between, Bentley also reignited its love for performance by making some high-powered models. Despite the efforts, Bentley’s image and association with rich old-timers remain today.

A new era of Flying B

Two luxury cars, one black emitting thick white smoke from the rear tires, and one white and green with racing decals, parked on concrete near a garage door. — Travis Pastrana going gymkhana in a Bentley wasn’t in our bingo cards for 2026.

So, while Bentley’s known for its association with British oligarchs, boring classical music and extra fancy mustard, it’s actually a genuine icon for speed and performance. And now, the brand is looking to lean more into its rich history and love for going fast.

But more so, it hopes to inspire a new and younger generation of Bentley enthusiasts. And what better way to inspire young and aspiring car and Bentley enthusiasts than to hire one of the world’s best and most iconic drivers for the job?

Smiling man wearing a black and white Bentley racing suit in an industrial setting. — If there’s any takeaway from Pastrana’s smile, its that the Continental GT Supersports is a seriously fun machine.

To make the video, unsurprisingly called “Full Send,” Bentley custom-built a rear-wheel-drive-only Continental GT Supersports specifically for the job. Built specifically to summon Bentley’s long-standing heritage for motorsports, engineers equipped the car with a whole bunch of factory modifications.

Green and black Bentley sports car drifting on pavement with smoke behind it. — When’s the last time you saw a new Bentley going sideways in such spectacular fashion?

Such includes a custom hydraulic handbrake and weight-saving measures. Other mods include recalibrations to braking and performance software, all so Pastrana could be the drifting hero we all know him to be.

“I knew the Supersports would have a lot of power but I was happily surprised by how nimble and fun it was to drive,” Pastrana said in his statement. “

White and black Bentley sports car with green front wheels sparking underneath on a street at dusk. — There’s certainly no Grey Poupon in sight in “Full Send.”

“I’ve never driven a production-based car to film a video of this magnitude before, without a clutch or modified steering angle, I had my concerns – but the Supersports exceeded all of my expectations. It was exactly what I had hoped for – the perfect combination of luxury and performance.”

About the Author: Chris Chin is an associate editor at Gear Patrol, covering cars, trucks and anything else with four wheels. He has over a decade of experience writing news and reviews but considers himself an enthusiast first, with a passion for classics and European cars. His daily driver is a 1987 Mercedes-Benz 560SEL with nearly 250,000 miles (87,000 are his).

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