Petrolhead motoring enthusiasts might not normally get excited by a new type of renewable energy vehicle, but add in the Bentley name and the legendary Pikes Peak International Hill Climb and you might just get their attention.

A Bentley Continental GT3 Pikes Peak version proved to be the fastest racecar running on renewable fuel at this year’s Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, finishing 2nd in the Time Attack 1 and an impressive 4th overall.

The car was driven by former King of the Mountain Rhys Millen and competed on a course that was shortened due to icy conditions at the Pikes Peak summit. It crossed the line in 6:36.281 a time good enough to beat all other sustainability-focused entrants, including fully electric competitors.

The Continental GT3 Pikes Peak was jointly developed by a collaborative team of Bentley, Fastr, Roger Clark Motorsport, M-Sport and Rhys Millen Racing. The project signals the start of a new focus on sustainability for Bentley’s Motorsport department, with every area of Bentley now concentrating on delivering the brand’s Beyond100 strategy to transform into the world’s leading sustainable luxury mobility company. The 750+ bhp Continental GT3 Pikes Peak is Bentley’s first renewably-powered racecar and is propelled by a special blend of 98RON Renewable racing biofuel, a low-carbon, high-octane fuel that produces 85% less greenhouse gas than petrol.