Yet there it was: a beautiful Bentley Bentayga Azure exiting ‘the Ws’ fully sideways, with eight cylinders and two turbos dividing 800 horsepower between four spinning wheels. It was one of those moments where you’re forced to pause, blink, think and go again.
DirtFish instructor and one of our most committed rally fanatics Sean Edwards is with me. Our jaws meet on the floor.
“Captain,” said Sean, “did that just happen?”
Before there’s a moment to answer, that beautiful noise is back with full boost bass and the accompanying percussion provided by gravel clattering the underside of a stunning topaz blue Bentley Continental GTC Mulliner.
Marketing coordinator at Fields Motorcars, Chloé Leilani, is largely responsible for a day that few will forget.
A Bentley on water - like a fish out of water? Absolutely not
“It’s one of those days that reminds me why I do what I do,” she smiled. “This experience started with an idea from Bentley Seattle’s brand manager Isaac Hicks and I’m so grateful for the trust, collaboration, and creative freedom he gave me to bring it fully to life.”
So are we, Chloé. So are we.
But, what was the thinking behind the day?
To a creative mind like Chloé, it was simple, straightforward juxtaposition. Bentley’s like to the Continental GT Speed are designed as grand tourers. It’s what they do. They effortlessly eat miles while cosseting their crew in the most astonishingly comfortable conditions.
A continent in a Continental? No problem. Coast-to-coast? A beautiful breeze.
Sure, these cars have all the transmission tricks and suspension settings to grace the gravel, but nobody’s ever actually going to get one dirty. Are they?
Back to Chloé: “Bentley Seattle took the Bentayga and Continental GTC to DirtFish Rally School and let them do what they were built to do — move through real terrain, with real drivers, in a real environment.
“Not for show. Not for hype. But to create something that actually felt alive.”
DirtFish chief instructor Nate Tennis was blown away by the Bentley's capability
Stepping out of a muddied Bentayga, DirtFish’s chief instructor Nate Tennis has rarely felt more alive. Having shared the moment with three of Bentley’s private clients, there’s an initial in-car debrief as Nate explains what just happened.
His passengers emerge with mile-wide smiles, while Tennis remains just for a moment, deep in thought. As chief instructor here, Nate’s all about weight transfer, understanding brake pressures, available grip and adapting and evolving driving styles to suit this great sport of ours.
He’s just done that, while enjoying an in-seat back massage. Out of the car and his first words comes as something of a surprise.
“I was wrong,” said Tennis. “I came to this car with a bunch of assumptions. I was wrong. This car – all of these cars – are absolutely willing to play. They’re agile, flexible. They slide and they’re practically begging a driver to test the limits and try more and more outlandish manoeuvres.
“Could you Scandinavian flick them? Everywhere, without a hint of drama. ‘Oh, you’d like to rotate under braking? Change direction quickly? And exit the corner tail out? Yes sir, right away, sir.’
“This was no lumbering oaf, this was a talented steward, ready and willing to serve the wildest whim of their operator.
“With the stability systems fully on, the vehicles were docile, controlled, and completely manageable for a driver of any skill level. It was impressive to witness the sophistication of the systems and feel what was being managed in the slippery conditions, along with how smooth their involvement in the driving experience they were.
“Once engaged they were only mildly intrusive, more like a gentle parent guiding an unruly toddler as opposed to an older sibling ruling with a bat. While more entertaining with everything off, as nannies go, these were excellent.
“When the systems were set to off – or as off as can be allowed on a standard street vehicle – the dynamics of the all-wheel-drive systems and abundant power were allowed to shine as bright as the chrome accents. Stunning, guttural acceleration with all four wheels creating foot-wide trenches, employing the sophisticated braking system was required earlier than anticipated. Despite a tire not designed for any amount of gravel use, the response and manners were respectable.
DirtFish Rally School offered the perfect setting for Bentley's marketing activity
“Once in a corner, the ability and willingness of the vehicles to rotate was surprising. Employing the same techniques used to drive a rally car, the Bentley’s responded just like a rally car: weight transfer forward to deliver traction to the front provided predictable rotation from the rear of the car. Once in the intended direction, throttle on produced a beautiful finish to the slide. The center differentials definitely lean toward rear bias, as additional rotation was possible with gentle use of the throttle.”
Explanation done, Nate was lost to another sideways assault on the senses.
As the winter sun began to dip behind the mountains, DirtFish’s head of strategy and Women in Motorsport coordinator Josie Rimmer took off her sunnies and just stared. Shaking her head, she smiled, then laughed out loud.
“What a day,” she offered. “What. A. Day.”
No arguments here.
