Bentley's Great Winter Driving Adventure

CREWE/FINLAND – Jan 26, 2012: Whether you have a passion for speed and a desire to put your driving skills to the ultimate test - or you’re simply seeking an exclusive, luxury winter break with a twist - Bentley’s Power on Ice adventure is set to deliver.

Next month Bentley is returning to the idyllic, far-north of Finland – a location where it has shattered two ice speed driving records with the four-time World Rally Champion Juha Kankkunen – to offer guests the chance to enjoy driving the 6.0 litre 567bhp (575PS) Continental GT coupe and the 621bhp (630PS) ultra high performance Continental Supersports coupe on one of the world’s most unusual and challenging test tracks.

“The circuits are crafted from snow and ice and are unlike any other track or road you have seen before,” says Peter Barnes a senior instructor with Bentley Driving.

“Power on Ice mixes the pure exhilaration of slaloming a Bentley supercar on a purpose-built course or taking a spin around a ‘figure of eight’ track, with the opportunity to acquire advanced techniques from a personal instructor, that will enable drivers to handle their cars with confidence even in the harshest weather conditions,” Peter explains.

Bentley’s record-breaking exploits in Finland have captured many people’s imagination and provided the inspiration for this unique driving experience. Bentley’s Continental range is ideally suited for winter driving with their state-of-the-art, all-wheel drive system employing an advanced Torsen differential. This ensures safe yet dynamic sports car handling on all road surfaces and in all weathers.

The power split for the all-wheel drive system has a 40:60 rear bias for sporting handling and spirited mid-corner acceleration. However, it can adjust the power split instantaneously between the front and rear wheels depending on the available grip. The sophisticated Electronic Stability Control (ESC) system provides additional security and grip whatever the driving style.

In February 2011, Finnish motorsport legend Juha Kankkunen, driving the all-wheel drive Continental Supersports Convertible on the frozen Baltic Sea, achieved an astonishing speed of 205.48 mph (330.695 km/h) eclipsing his own ice speed record of 199.83 mph (321.6 km/h) set in 2007 in the original Continental GT.

“As well as drawing inspiration from Juha’s world records, Bentley’s engineers and professional drivers have used Finland’s extreme conditions to enhance the safety and handling capabilities of our cars. We’ve got a great deal of knowledge and expertise to share but the accent for Power on Ice will always be on fun and taking part in something far more memorable than a normal skiing holiday,” adds Peter.

After a hard day of high-speed ‘slaloming’ Bentley’s high-performance supercars, there is the chance to indulge in some well-deserved luxury at the mountainside Ruka Peak hotel. Fine dining in front of roaring open fires, relaxing in the sauna, as well as taking the odd shopping trip or ‘husky-powered’ nature excursion across frozen lakes is all part of the Bentley experience.

And for those guests seeking the chance to escape from the crowd for a few days, the cottages and apartments in the grounds of the Ruka Peak hotel, all furnished in traditional Scandinavian style, offer welcome and additional privacy and space.