Bentley took a sold-out Supersports, a 1930s Speed Six and an off-road Bentayga concept to Montana, pointed them at a frozen track, and handed the keys to a professional drift driver. The result was precisely as unhinged as you would hope.
The FAT Ice Race in Big Sky, Montana marked Bentley’s continued partnership with FAT International, the outfit that runs proper automotive hooliganism across Europe’s most photogenic mountain passes. The inaugural US event brought together the sort of crowd that thinks a frozen lake is an acceptable substitute for a racetrack. Bentley obliged with three machines capable of making that choice seem entirely reasonable.
The star of the show was the Supersports from Bentley’s FULL SEND film. This is the one Travis Pastrana thrashed around the Crewe factory at 100 mph. This time, Lia Block was behind the wheel, renewing her relationship with Bentley after previously demonstrating her considerable talents in a Flying Spur. The only modification since the film? 2.5mm studs in the tyres. Because apparently Bentley considered the standard rubber sufficient for everything except actual ice.
A Century of Sideways
Joining the Supersports on the ice was the Speed Six Continuation Series, Mulliner’s hand-built recreation of the car that won Le Mans in 1929 and 1930. The “Factory Works” special came finished in Bedford Grey with an Oxblood leather interior, and the floorboards carry the laser-engraved signatures of the team that built it. Mike Sayer, Head of Bentley’s Heritage Collection, demonstrated that a 96-year-old chassis design loses precisely none of its charm when pointed sideways on frozen water.
The contrast was rather the point. A 782 bhp twin-turbo V8 monster from 2026 and a straight-six from 1930, both drifting in tandem for a crowd wrapped in Canada Goose parkas. Bentley does not do things by halves.
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ABOVE: Ice drifting, Speed Six, crowd shots, Bentayga X Concept, Cars and Coffee
The Bentayga Goes Bush
The Bentayga X Concept also made its US debut. Its preview shows us what an off-road-focused Bentayga might look like if Bentley ever decides the school run needs 310mm of ground clearance. Based on the 650 PS Bentayga Speed, the concept sports 22-inch Brixton wheels wrapped in chunky off-road rubber, a 120mm wider track, 55mm more ride height, and a roof rack with four spotlights. There is an electric go-kart strapped to the top, because naturally.
The wading depth has been improved to over 550mm, which suggests Bentley expects its customers to drive through rivers rather than merely park beside them at wine tastings. The titanium Akrapovic exhaust remains, twin towing eyes have been added to the front, and the overall height now reaches 2.49 metres. It is gloriously impractical and completely wonderful.
This was Bentley’s second visit to Big Sky in nine months, after the Bentayga Speed global media drive last June. The car used to create the X Concept was from that event, making Big Sky something of a spiritual home for this particular Bentayga. Full circle, as it were.
The partnership with FAT International continues later this year with a Bentley takeover of Mankei, FAT’s base on Austria’s Grossglockner pass. Expect more sideways shenanigans in rather more civilised surroundings.
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Alan Zurvas is the founder and editor of Gay Car Boys, Australia's leading LGBTQI+ automotive publication. Before launching GCB in 2008, Alan's automotive writing was published in SameSame.com.au and the Star Observer. With over 16 years of hands-on car reviewing experience, Alan brings an honest, irreverent voice to every review — championing value and innovation over brand loyalty.
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