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Feature drive: Kankkunen's ice record breaking Bentley. Image by Dominic Fraser.

Feature drive: Kankkunen's ice record breaking Bentley
We drive the Bentley Continental Supersports Convertible Juha Kankkunen broke the world ice speed record in.

   



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| Feature Drive | Geneva, Switzerland | Bentley Continental Supersports Convertible ISR |

Overall rating: 5 5 5 5 5

We borrow Kankkunen's 205.48mph ice speed record breaking Continental Supersports for an alpine dash from Geneva to Gstaad.

Key Facts

Engine: 6.0-litre petrol W12
Transmission: six-speed automatic, four-wheel drive
Body style: two-door convertible
Rivals: a racing snowmobile, Pisten Bully, snow train
CO2 emissions: 388g/km
Combined economy: 16.9mpg
Top speed: 205.48mph (on ice)
0-62mph: 3.9 seconds
Power: 640hp at 6,000rpm
Torque: 800Nm at 2,000rpm

In the Metal: 5 5 5 5 5

There's something amusingly uncouth about a stickered-up Bentley Supersports Convertible. Usually I'd baulk at it; Bentleys should really be discreet, but this one has earned its livery. The stickers here indicate the car's top speed of 205mph, on ice. The wind-cheating headlamp covers are gone for this road drive, but the aerodynamic, flat, painted wheel covers remain, as does the rather afterthought spoiler and rear mounting for the parachute.

That additional braking system is operated by a handle inside, a lever that's redundant today as there's no parachute mounted - it's unlikely to be required at Swiss motorway speeds. There's a roll cage inside too, which makes getting in and out an undignified experience, but then at over 200mph on ice you'd be happy of the additional protection. Likewise the interior has lost some of Bentley's usual polished lustre - only some mind, as the five-strap seatbelt holds you into a beautifully quilted suede, and carbon-fibre backed seat. Record breaking has never been so comfortable.

Driving it: 5 5 5 5 5

Without a 10-mile frozen run of the Baltic Sea to hand our drive in the Supersports Ice Speed Record (ISR) car is limited by the Swiss road laws. The police here won't be as accommodating as the Finnish - who provided the record attempt timing equipment - so we're limited to 75mph. Which is a cinch really, with 640hp. There's nothing unusual about the way the ISR car drives, except the reduction in visibility caused by the thick tubing of the cage and the very slightly tatty patina inside. Otherwise it's the same as any Supersports, which is to say effortlessly fast, though being based on the previous generation Continental GT it's not as slick in its gear shifting, nor composed in its ride comfort as the latest versions. It's rock solid at speed though, thanks to plenty of weight and standard four-wheel drive.

Off the fast Swiss motorways and climbing up the mountain roads to Gstaad the Supersports remains as sure-footed as ever, even as the altitude rises and there's snow on the roads. Winter tyres provide excellent traction and grip, requiring little drop in pace despite worsening conditions. Certainly there are worse ways to get to a ski resort, and you don't need Juha levels of skill to do so quickly...

What you get for your Money: 1 1 1 1 1

This car is nothing short of a piece of Bentley history. It's not for sale though; at least this very car isn't, instead Bentley is selling a handful of ISR specials for those who like their Supersports to be noticed. Don't expect a parachute brake though - only this car comes fitted with that.

Worth Noting

Apparently Kankkunen spent a good deal of his record breaking run with a degree of opposite lock on. No such huge-balled heroism was required during our drive, but we did get flashed by a Swiss speed camera - at 130 (kilometres, rather than miles per hour). Yup, lame.

Summary

Record-breaking drives don't come along too often, so this was one to enjoy, even at road-limited speeds. What's remarkable is how conventional it feels, especially given that speeds in excess of 200mph were once the preserve of just a handful of cars. That this Bentley achieved 205mph, on ice, with only minimum safety modifications speaks volumes for its incredible competence - and Kankkunen's unhinged driving ability.


Kyle Fortune. Photography by Dominic Fraser. - 26 Jan 2012



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We drive Juha Kankkunen's ice speed record Bentley Continental Supersports Convertible. Image by Dominic Fraser.We drive Juha Kankkunen's ice speed record Bentley Continental Supersports Convertible. Image by Dominic Fraser.We drive Juha Kankkunen's ice speed record Bentley Continental Supersports Convertible. Image by Dominic Fraser.We drive Juha Kankkunen's ice speed record Bentley Continental Supersports Convertible. Image by Dominic Fraser.We drive Juha Kankkunen's ice speed record Bentley Continental Supersports Convertible. Image by Dominic Fraser.

We drive Juha Kankkunen's ice speed record Bentley Continental Supersports Convertible. Image by Dominic Fraser.We drive Juha Kankkunen's ice speed record Bentley Continental Supersports Convertible. Image by Dominic Fraser.We drive Juha Kankkunen's ice speed record Bentley Continental Supersports Convertible. Image by Dominic Fraser.We drive Juha Kankkunen's ice speed record Bentley Continental Supersports Convertible. Image by Dominic Fraser.We drive Juha Kankkunen's ice speed record Bentley Continental Supersports Convertible. Image by Dominic Fraser.



We drive Juha Kankkunen's ice speed record Bentley Continental Supersports Convertible. Image by Dominic Fraser.
 

We drive Juha Kankkunen's ice speed record Bentley Continental Supersports Convertible. Image by Dominic Fraser.
 

We drive Juha Kankkunen's ice speed record Bentley Continental Supersports Convertible. Image by Dominic Fraser.
 

We drive Juha Kankkunen's ice speed record Bentley Continental Supersports Convertible. Image by Dominic Fraser.
 

We drive Juha Kankkunen's ice speed record Bentley Continental Supersports Convertible. Image by Dominic Fraser.
 

We drive Juha Kankkunen's ice speed record Bentley Continental Supersports Convertible. Image by Dominic Fraser.
 






 

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