The overwhelmingly positive response to its Continental GT3 race car concept has given Bentley the confidence to return to the world of motorsports, something it’s been wanting to do for a long time.

The automaker has already received significant interest for its Continental GT3 from numerous potential customers, and development of the race car is well underway at its headquarters in Crewe, England.

A track debut is scheduled to take place at the end of next year, ahead of a full racing program in 2014. Though Bentley’s race car concept is built to FIA GT3 standards, it is not clear what competitions it will be entered in, though endurance racing is looking likely.

Bentley has now revealed that motorsports and engineering firm M-Sport was be a technical partner for its Continental GT3 race car.

M-Sport, which has a successful history in the world of rallying, including two Manufacturers’ titles in the World Rally Championship, will be assisting with the design of specialist components for Bentley’s new race car.

The company’s main facility in Cumbria, north of Crewe, will complement Bentley’s own motorsport facility recently established at its factory.

In a statement, Bentley’s Director of Motorsport, Brian Gush, said: “Not only do we now have a world-beating operation in M-Sport as our new technical partner, but the car continues to attract interest from around the globe, which is very encouraging as we progress the detail design.”

The next stop for Bentley’s Continental GT3 race car concept will be the 2013 Autosport International taking place in Birmingham, England, in mid-January. The event is considered one of the largest motorsport shows in the world and no doubt there will be a lot of interest in Bentley’s new race car.