Beyond the Tyres: Unpacking the ‘Pymkhana’ Spectacle – A Technical Analysis of Bentley’s 2026 Supersports: FULL SEND
Authored by: Benjamin Price, Principal Automotive Engineering Analyst | 10 Years Experience in High-Performance Vehicle Development.
(Date: April 2, 2026)
The automotive world has just witnessed something extraordinary. Bentley has released its latest action-packed cinematic experience, Supersports: FULL SEND, featuring legendary extreme sports athlete Travis Pastrana. But beyond the electrifying visuals and the controlled chaos, a deeper story unfolds – one of engineering audacity, meticulous planning, and the relentless pursuit of automotive perfection. As an industry veteran with a decade in high-performance vehicle engineering, I’ve spent considerable time dissecting what makes this film not just entertaining, but a landmark moment in performance marketing. This isn’t just another marketing stunt; it’s a profound demonstration of what happens when precision meets physics in a controlled environment.\
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This Bentley Supersports film has set a new standard for automotive marketing. It takes the already potent production model and dials it up to eleven, creating a jaw-dropping showcase of what the Bentley performance line is capable of under extreme conditions. In this deep dive, we’ll unpack the technical marvels behind the film, the strategic genius of the Bentley R&D department, and what this means for the modern luxury car market and performance automotive enthusiasts.\
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The production details of Supersports: FULL SEND were fully revealed today, as the company cleared the tyresmoke around this highly ambitious project. A dedicated behind-the-scenes film has been released, showing how the movie was shot over three days at Bentley’s state-of-the-art facilities. This event included the first-ever complete closure of the entire Bentley campus, involving a crew of over 100 people—a testament to the meticulous planning required for such a dynamic production.\n
The Conceptual Genesis: From ‘Pymkhana’ to Global Phenomenon\n
The genesis of Supersports: FULL SEND began in April of last year. When the new Supersports was revealed, it presented a unique opportunity to create a completely new type of film for Bentley. The preliminary steps for the project—internally dubbed ‘Pymkhana’ (a gymkhana shot on Pyms Lane, the address of the factory)—commenced with conversations with key internal departments. What surprised many participants in these initial discussions was the realization that the ambitious concept was indeed feasible, provided enough preparation.\n
With the official green light given by Bentley’s Board of Management, work commenced in the Bentley R&D department. Their task was to prepare a Supersports development vehicle to be as extreme as possible. The development of this specialized vehicle was a Herculean effort, requiring a blend of cutting-edge engineering and creative problem-solving. This is where the true genius of the project lies—transforming a production-ready luxury performance car into a precision tool for extreme action, all without compromising the inherent integrity of the Supersports chassis.\n
Engineering the ‘Pymkhana’ Monster: The Technical Deep Dive\n
The engineering feats involved in preparing the Supersports development car are truly remarkable. Alistair Corner, the Bentley engineering manager who oversaw the preparation of the car, commented on the complexity of the project.\n
Corner explains the mission for the ‘Pymkhana’ car: “We needed 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.”\n
This statement highlights the technical constraints they had to work with. The standard production version of the Supersports is a masterwork of engineering that perfectly balances luxury sports car performance with safety and handling. However, in a controlled environment like a gymkhana course, certain features become liabilities rather than assets. The Bentley R&D department had to find a way to disable these features without damaging the underlying architecture of the car.\n
Precision Suspension and Traction Control\n
One of the most critical adjustments involved the electronic limited slip differential. To allow the car to drift and slide like a professional stunt vehicle, the electronic limited slip differential had to be adjusted to provide early locking. This allows the rear wheels to lock together under hard acceleration, providing a controlled slide rather than just spinning.\n
In addition to the electronic limited slip differential, Electronic Stability Control (ESC) had to be permanently disabled. ESC is a safety feature designed to prevent the car from spinning out of control. While essential for production cars, it actively works against the physics of drifting and vehicle dynamics. By disabling ESC, the engineers allowed the car to slide more freely, requiring Travis Pastrana’s legendary car control skills to keep it under wraps.\n
To support this, special software changes were written to allow both static and rolling burnouts. This required modifying the engine and transmission software to ensure the car could hold a high RPM while stationary, and then launch smoothly into a controlled slide. The Bentley engineering manager emphasized the importance of these software changes, noting that they were crucial in turning the Supersports into a precision instrument.\n
The Hydraulic Handbrake: Engineering on the Edge\n
The key to success in this project was the design and installation of a working hydraulic handbrake. While Bentleys have a standard electronic handbrake, it is not designed for extreme performance applications. The engineers had to design a completely new system that integrated with the eight-speed double-clutch gearbox.\n
This hydraulic handbrake allowed the car to enter tight corners with the rear end sliding sideways, rather than relying on power-oversteer. This technique is crucial in gymkhana and drifting, as it allows for more controlled and precise maneuvers around obstacles. The team of engineers worked tirelessly to ensure this system was robust enough to handle the extreme forces involved, and the results speak for themselves.\n
The Backup Team: Risk Management in Action\n
Alongside the main star car, a second back-up car was also prepared. This was essential for an event of this magnitude, where the risk of damage is high. Both cars were wrapped in a bespoke, gymkhana-inspired design by graphic artist Deathspray, and completed with custom-painted 22” wheels. The 22-inch wheels provided an aggressive look that complemented the Supersports aggressive performance.\n
Beneath the star car, a pair of titanium skid blocks were mounted to generate the shower of sparks seen towards the culmination of the film. These titanium skid blocks were a last-minute addition, and the engineering team had to quickly find a way to attach them to the car without damaging the bodywork. The fact that they were able to implement this so quickly is a testament to the ingenuity of the Bentley R&D department.\n
Travis Pastrana: The Perfect Partner for Supersports: FULL SEND\n
Travis Pastrana was the ideal choice to drive the Supersports in this film. His legendary skills in motocross, rally, and drifting made him the perfect partner for this project. He not only has the experience of driving extreme performance vehicles, but also the ability to push the Supersports to its limits in a controlled environment. His collaboration with Bentley has elevated the performance automotive space to new heights.\n
The dates for filming were set as 26-28 September 2025. Before filming could commence, each scene was planned in detail and choreographed. This was essential to ensure that risk to the car, driver, and factory were all minimized. As a working factory, the number of possible risks were myriad, with extra care needed to protect gas mains, fibre optic cables, water pipes, and even the electrical power supply to the entire factory. All of these were located within inches of some of the dynamic locations.\n
Safety First: Coordinating Filming with Safety Protocols\n
Scenes that involved other cars—like the car park chase sequence with the Pikes Peak Bentleys, or the Brooklands burnout sequence—required additional coordination. These scenes included two precision drivers that worked with Travis. The Bentley R&D department and the production team worked closely together to ensure that all safety protocols were followed. The Bentley engineering manager emphasized that safety was their top priority, and they were able to achieve the desired results without any major incidents.\n
The filming itself involved a squad of over 100 people, split between the production crew and supporting teams from across Bentley. The main filming crew comprised around 25 people, including two main camera operators, two drone operators, two minicams technicians, and a three-person crew that operated a purpose-built tracking car built out of a first-generation Bentayga W12, complete with a U-Crane arm. This demonstrates the
