Bentley, a brand synonymous with opulence and refined driving, recently defied expectations by putting its vehicles through a rigorous rally course at DirtFish Rally School in Washington state. The unlikely event, organized through Fields Auto Group, saw Bentayga SUVs and Continental GT convertibles shredding gravel alongside the school’s usual Subaru rally cars.
Rethinking Luxury Performance
The move was initially met with disbelief. As DirtFish’s head of strategy, Josie Rimmer, put it, “When Chloe called me and said, ‘We want to put Bentleys on gravel,’ I thought it was a joke.” However, the experiment quickly proved the brand’s engineering prowess extends far beyond paved roads.
The core takeaway: Bentley’s turbocharged engines and all-wheel drive systems perform surprisingly well in low-traction environments. This highlights that luxury does not necessarily preclude robust mechanical capability.
From Stately Homes to Gravel Roads
Bentley has cultivated an image of aristocratic elegance, conjuring up images of tweed jackets and stately English estates. The sight of a Bentley sliding sideways on dirt challenges this perception, yet the underlying engineering makes it feasible.
DirtFish instructors, accustomed to pushing Subarus to their limits, were impressed. Brenten Kelly noted that the Continental GTC was “more impressive than I expected… the handling really stood out.” This suggests luxury vehicles can hold their own in challenging conditions, given the right setup.
A Brief Respite from Refinement
The Bentleys’ day of off-road fun was temporary; they will likely return to their refined existence on highways and driveways. Still, the experiment serves as a reminder that even the most luxurious cars are built on a foundation of engineering that can handle more than just smooth roads.
As one DirtFish instructor put it, the experience redefined what a luxury vehicle could be. This is a reminder that high-end brands can still embrace performance.
