Top Gear host Chris Harris will race for Bentley

By Stephen Edelstein April 22, 2016

Chris Harris — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Talk about a packed resumé. It’s hard to imagine an automotive journalist who is also a television host and a race car driver, but Chris Harris ticks all of those boxes. He’s part of the squad that will host a new version of Top Gear due out next month, and over the years he’s shown off his considerable driving skills in some serious machinery.

This weekend, though, Harris won’t be engaging in Top Gear shenanigans or polishing off an article. He’ll be racing for Bentley in the opening round of the Blancpain Endurance Series Cup at the Monza circuit in Italy. And Harris will stick around for the season, which includes five races in all.

Harris will drive a Bentley Continental GT3, a stripped down, track-ready version of the Continental GT coupe. It uses a version of the 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 available in the road car, tuned to 600 horsepower. The racer also ditches the road-going version’s all-wheel drive for rear-wheel drive, part of a drastic diet. The Continental GT3 weighs about 2,800 pounds, according to Bentley, compared to 5,060 pounds for a stock Continental GT V8.

The Blancpain Endurance Series Cup is a mid-level race series run entirely in Europe. It features mostly GT3 cars, which are based on production models and comply with a set of rules that emphasize (relatively) low cost and commonality with road cars. A U.S. analog is the Pirelli World Challenge, where Bentley runs a pair of Continental GT3 racers virtually identical to the ones that compete in Europe.

Harris will race with Bentley Team Parker Racing in the Pro-Am classes, which mixes professional and amateur drivers. The team will field two cars, alongside two cars from Bentley’s M-Sport factory team, which competes in the top Pro class.

Meanwhile, Top Gear is set to return next month after an overhaul following the departure of Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May. Harris will host the show alongside Chris Evans, Sabine Schmitz, Eddie Jordan, and Rory Reid. The original Top Gear trio is working on a competing car show of their own for Amazon.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Stephen Edelstein

Contributing Editor

Stephen is a freelance automotive journalist covering all things cars. He likes anything with four wheels, from classic cars…

Cars

Mercedes-Benz EQG: range, price, release date, and more

Concept image of the larger electric G-Wagon

The G-Class is going electric. We already knew that Mercedes-Benz was working on an electric, small-size G-Wagon, but it looks like the company is also working on a larger G-Class SUV, in the form of the EQG. In fact, Mercedes has gone as far as to show off a concept version of the off-roader.

While there's much we don't know about what will become the production model of the EQG, Mercedes has also shared a lot about it. Curious about whether the Mercedes-Benz EQG could be the EV for you? Here's everything we know so far.
Design
Fear not -- the EQG will retain many of the design aspects of the G-Class that you already know and love but with a modern face-lift. The EQG will keep the boxy design that gives the G-Class a classic look but with some additional modern styling, at least if the concept version is anything to go by.

Cars

Rivian R2 vs. Kia EV9: battle of affordable electric SUVs

Kia EV9 GT-Line Three Quarters

The long-awaited Rivian R2 has finally been announced, and it's an excellent option for those who want an electric SUV that doesn't completely break the bank. Sure, the R2 isn't cheap -- but it's a whole lot cheaper than most other EVs out there, especially when it comes to SUVs. But Rivian isn't the only company trying to tackle the problem of the budget electric SUV. The Kia EV9 is finally available, and it too offers a modern design and a range of helpful features.

Given the fact that the Rivian R2 and Kia EV9 are two electric SUVs in a similar price range, you might be wondering which is better for your needs. That's why we put the Rivian R2 and the Kia EV9 head-to-head.
Design
Both the Rivian R2 and the Kia EV9 are actual SUVs -- not crossovers pretending to be SUVs, like plenty of other EVs out there. The two vehicles offer big, boxy designs and plenty of interior space, making them excellent options for families or those who need that extra storage.

Cars

Rivian R2 vs R1S: How will Rivian’s cheaper SUV compare?

The front three-quarter view of a 2022 Rivian against a rocky backdrop.

Rivian has finally unveiled the R2, its long-awaited attempt at a more affordable electric SUV. The new vehicle may not be available just yet, but fans of Rivian's design aesthetics and feature set are already looking forward to being able to order the new car. The R2 is targeted at being a more affordable take on the electric SUV and will sit alongside the flagship-tier R1S.

Let's get this out of the way right now: The R1S is most likely going to be a better vehicle than the R2. Rivian isn't replacing the R1S with the R2 — it's releasing the R2 as a more affordable alternative, and there will be some compromises when buying the R2 over the R1S.