Exclusive Behind-the-Scenes Look: The Making of Bentley’s Most Audacious Film, “Supersports: FULL SEND”
(Crewe, 2 April 2026) – The tire smoke has cleared, and today Bentley lifts the lid on the intricate details behind its most dynamic film ever—Supersports: FULL SEND. Featuring the legendary Travis Pastrana, the behind-the-scenes documentary released today reveals the ambition and groundbreaking nature of the project. Shot over three intensive days at Bentley’s historic Crewe campus, the production involved a crew of over 100 people and marked the first time the entire facility was completely shut down to allow for safe filming at speeds approaching 120 mph. The film is peppered with 12 hidden “Easter Eggs” for eagle-eyed viewers to discover.
The Genesis of a Vision: From Concept to Creation
Supersports: FULL SEND was conceived in April last year, driven by the arrival of the new Supersports model. The project aimed to craft a completely novel cinematic experience for Bentley. Internally codenamed ‘Pymkhana’—a gymkhana performed on Pyms Lane, the address of the factory—the film’s initial conceptual stages involved in-depth discussions with key internal departments. Astonishingly, all parties agreed that the concept was indeed achievable, provided sufficient preparation was undertaken.
With the Board of Management’s approval secured, work commenced in Bentley’s Research and Development department to enhance a development vehicle to the absolute extreme. The engineering team’s task was to push the Supersports beyond its production limits, creating a machine that could navigate the factory’s narrow road network with the agility of a purpose-built rally car.
Engineering the Extremes: How the Pymkhana Car Was Built
The transformation of the production-spec Supersports into the film’s star vehicle required significant engineering intervention. To enable controlled drifts and high-angle slides, the electronic Limited Slip Differential (eLSD) was adjusted for early locking, and the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) system was permanently disabled. Specialized software modifications were developed to permit both static and rolling burnouts, pushing the car’s inherent dynamics to their limits.
The pivotal innovation was the design and installation of a working hydraulic handbrake. This system was seamlessly integrated with the eight-speed double-clutch transmission control system, providing the driver with the ability to initiate drifts in tight corners rather than relying solely on power-oversteer.
Alistair Corner, the Bentley engineering manager who oversaw this extraordinary preparation, shared his perspective on the project’s technical challenges:
“The mission for our ‘Pymkhana’ car was to turn the already-capable Supersports up to 11—to remove all the safety features that the production version must include, and to add functionality to allow the car to dance around the narrow roads of our factory. The team of engineers that developed the car was outstanding, learning on-the-fly and coming up with creative solutions to turn the car into a monster. Crucially, what that special car can now do is an extension of the inherent ability within Supersports—the Pymkhana car is a Supersports without limits, that demonstrates what our chassis and powertrain can do when taken to the extreme.”
Safety First, Extreme Performance Always
While the finished film showcases a spectacle of controlled chaos, meticulous planning was essential to minimize the inherent risks associated with high-speed driving on a live production campus. Protecting critical infrastructure such as gas mains, fiber optic cables, water pipes, and the entire factory’s electrical supply was paramount, as some driving maneuvers took place just inches away from these vital services.
Scenes involving other vehicles—such as the car park chase sequence featuring the Pikes Peak Bentleys and the Brooklands burnout sequence—required an additional layer of coordination. These segments featured two precision drivers working in sync with Travis Pastrana to execute complex synchronized maneuvers safely.
Alongside the primary star car, which has since been inducted into Bentley’s prestigious Heritage Collection, a second, backup vehicle was prepared to mitigate the risk of damage during filming. Both cars were adorned with a bespoke, gymkhana-inspired graphics design by artist Deathspray and fitted with custom-painted 22-inch wheels. To generate the striking sparks observed during the film’s climax, a pair of titanium skid blocks were mounted beneath the star car.
The Experience of Production: A Team Effort
The filming process involved a comprehensive squad of over 100 individuals, comprising the production crew and support teams from various departments across Bentley. The core production team consisted of approximately 25 people, including two main camera operators, two drone operators, two technicians for minicams, and a three-person crew operating a purpose-built tracking vehicle—a first-generation Bentayga W12 modified with a U-Crane arm for dynamic aerial shots.
The support teams were equally critical to the project’s success. A 10-person team of location marshals was responsible for ensuring each location within the factory was completely cordoned off for filming. They were supported by 25 vehicle specialists divided into two teams, a factory support team, medical personnel, a fire crew, car wranglers, heritage vehicle drivers, and a health and safety unit.
Results and Reflection
Filming proceeded almost without incident. Mike Sayer, Bentley’s Head of Product Communications and the Executive Producer for the project, commented on the intensity and enjoyment of the production:
“The filming days were incredibly intense but ultimately the most fun we’ve ever had at the campus. We were fortunate with the weather, and the star car, the supporting cast of vehicles and all the teams involved performed to an exceptional standard. Despite the beyond-the-limit driving involved, and speeds exceeding 120 mph, the only damage sustained to person or machine was one smashed wing mirror! I’m grateful to every single Bentley colleague who worked so hard to deliver this unique project for us.”
Following three days of shooting and three months of editing, both led by the exceptional director Jon Richards, the completed film was released in January. It features 12 subtle “Easter Eggs” for viewers to find—cars and details that reward close observation. The full list of these cinematic treasures can be found at the end of this document.
Supersports: FULL SEND – A Deep Dive into the PerformanceEngineering Behind the Film
In the realm of high-performance automotive cinematography, a project like Supersports: FULL SEND represents not just a marketing stunt, but a profound testament to engineering capability and a willingness to explore the physical boundaries of a production vehicle. As an industry expert with a decade of experience working at the intersection of product development, motorsports, and content creation, the technical challenges overcome by the Bentley team are truly remarkable.
The Engineering Mandate: Beyond Production Capabilities
The fundamental premise of Supersports: FULL SEND was to demonstrate the raw, untamed performance of the Bentley Supersports by stripping it of its safety net. This is a critical distinction. Production cars are engineered with sophisticated safety systems—electronic stability control (ESC), traction control, and electronic limited-slip differentials (eLSD)—to ensure stability, predictability, and safety under a wide range of conditions.
However, for a film like this, these systems become obstacles. The goal of the film was to showcase the car “dancing” sideways—a state of controlled oversteer that ESC actively fights. Therefore, the engineering team had to reconfigure the vehicle’s software and hardware to effectively disable these safeguards.
This is where the technical complexity escalates dramatically. Simply disabling ESC doesn’t guarantee predictable handling. Bentley’s engineers had to precisely recalibrate the electronic limited-slip differential to operate more aggressively. While the production-spec eLSD is designed to manage wheel slip under acceleration, for gymkhana driving, the differential needs to provide instant torque to the outside wheel during a drift, helping to rotate the car through a corner. This level of precise torque vectoring is something that is typically absent from high-end road cars designed for luxury cruising rather than performance sliding.
Furthermore, the ability to generate static and rolling burnouts requires a careful balance of engine power, transmission control, and wheel braking. If the traction control is too aggressive, it will cut power when the driver tries to spin the wheels. If the car is too powerful and lacks the ability to generate wheel slip, it will simply launch off the line rather than performing a controlled burnout. Bentley’s team had to write specific software code to allow the Supersports to perform these maneuvers without damaging the drivetrain.
The Hydraulic Handbrake: A Masterclass in Integration
The most critical engineering achievement in Supersports: FULL SEND is the hydraulic handbrake. For a car like the Bentley Supersports, which features an advanced electronic parking brake (EPB) system, adding a traditional mechanical handbrake is a significant undertaking.
In a typical luxury car, the EPB is controlled by a button on the center console. It uses small electric motors to clamp the rear brake discs. However, to achieve the kind of dramatic slides seen in the film, a driver needs instant, precise control over the rear wheels’ braking force, without the delay or limited throw of an EPB.
Bentley engineers developed a system where a hydraulic handbrake lever actuates a master cylinder, which in turn sends hydraulic pressure to the rear calipers. The genius of this solution is how it was integrated with the car’s electronic systems. They had to write software to ensure that when the hydraulic handbrake is pulled, the electronic stability control and ABS systems do not interfere. This is a complex feat of integration, as these systems are designed to work together to prevent exactly what the engineers were trying to do—force the
