Cody Gakpo and Bentley hit the fast lane together
Cody Gakpo already has a healthy reputation for being super speedy – just ask any poor Premier League defender who’s had to mark him when playing against Liverpool. But now the association extends on to the open roads, particularly the ones around Cheshire, because the Dutch international has just taken on a new role as a Bentley ambassador for UK and Europe.
Cody Gakpo and Bentley hit the fast lane together
“I'm not a person that wants to brag about things I’ve got, but I like quality and Bentley’s have good performance so it’s a good fit,” Gakpo tells me. “I've been to the factory twice now [in nearby Crewe] and the way they are made also makes you respect the brand and the cars even more. A lot of things are still handmade and the brand puts in so much care, which makes it more admirable.”
Cody Gakpo and Bentley hit the fast lane together
Cody Gakpo and Bentley hit the fast lane together
Gakpo has just returned home from training in his Bentley Bentayga S Black Edition V8 in Royal Ebony Satin – bespoke in so much as the mandarin ("oranje") detailing is a nod to playing for his country, The Netherlands. For the 26 year old, driving to and from Liverpool’s AXA Training Centre (“40 minutes each way”) provides him with the kind of solitude we all crave, only he does it at the wheel of one of the most premium cars on the planet.
Cody Gakpo and Bentley hit the fast lane together
“It depends on my mood but lately I've been listening to African music again with good melodies, and obviously I’m still listening to gospel a lot. If I don’t have music on, there’s time to think or call people about things that are going on on the pitch or off the pitch,” he says. “Sometimes you just step in the car and before you know it you're at your destination.”
It’s a glowing review and not a surprising one for someone driving a Bentayga. And things are about to get even better for Gakpo as he’s recently just finished commissioning a new Bentayga Speed with Bentley Mulliner. Naturally, it’s Rubino Red – an obvious nod to Liverpool colours – with a Pillar Box Red and Beluga interior.
Cody Gakpo and Bentley hit the fast lane together
“The Speed is going to be more for when I need a good performance on the road, or maybe when I'm a little bit late,” Gakpo jokes. “Both of the cars are very high quality but you know how it goes with new stuff – when you have something shiny and new, you want to try the new stuff more often than the things you already have.”
“This partnership marks a moment where elite athletic performance matches that of our cars. We are delighted to welcome Cody Gakpo as our ambassador for the UK and Europe,” says Nicola Brown, Bentley’s head of marketing EMEA. “We share an unwavering pursuit of excellence and dedication to our craft.”
Having one Bentayga is a flex, but two shows Gakpo truly appreciates the performance engineering Bentley Motors offers today, and has done throughout its 106-year history. In fact, make that three if you include the car he bought for his father.
“Growing up, my parents always showed me what hard work really means. Gifting my dad his Bentayga was a full circle moment, a way of saying thank you for everything he’s taught me, and something we used to dream about together. For me, Bentley represents family, ambition, and the idea of hard work paying off – a reflection of how far I’ve come and everything I’m still striving for.”