The new 2018 Bentley Continental GT3 will make its debut in customer hands later this year, as part of a new partnership between the British marque and Phoenix Racing Asia.

Phoenix Racing Asia will campaign a pair of the new Continental GT3s in the Blancpain GT Series Asia’s final two rounds at Shanghai and Ningbo, the weekend at Shanhai, in turn, serving as the car’s debut in the series. The outfit will also now be referred to as Bentley Team Phoenix Racing Asia going forward, as part of the long-term partnership.

To this point the 2018 Continental GT3 has been competing soley as a factory car in the Blancpain Endurance Cup with M-Sport.

Key Phoenix staff will join Bentley Team M-Sport for Asia’s leg of the Intercontinental GT Challenge at Suzuka this August before taking delivery of and testing two new Continental GT3s ahead of Blancpain GT Series Asia’s final rounds. The team and cars are then also expected to mount a full-season campaign in 2019.

Team owner and driver Marchy Lee said: “I feel very proud that a manufacturer as prestigious as Bentley has chosen a young team like Phoenix Racing Asia as an official partner,” he said. “They clearly see a lot of potential in us, but hopefully also the same attributes that characterise their brand.

“We aim to be the very best at everything we do as a race team, and – having been shown behind the scenes at Bentley earlier this week – I think that’s definitely something we both share. The new Continental GT3 also looks fantastic and has already demonstrated its potential in Europe. This is the perfect partnership as we begin the next chapter in Phoenix Racing Asia’s history.”

Bentley Motorsport’s Head of Operations Nick Burns added: “Having a leading team represent us in Blancpain GT Series Asia was extremely important to us. It’s an incredibly tough series but we believe Phoenix Racing Asia has what it takes to win races and we are delighted that they have chosen to work with us.

“We are already engaged with the team and we’re looking forward to welcoming them to Suzuka for the 10-hour race – we believe that close co-operation is key to global success.”

Bentley Team Phoenix’s current Audi will race at Fuji next weekend before both new Bentleys compete in 2018’s final two events.