Support the Continental drive (6)
I believe the answer is:
propel
'drive' is the definition.
(thesaurus)
'support the continental' is the wordplay.
'support' becomes 'prop' (prop is a kind of support**).
'the continental' becomes 'el'.
'prop'+'el'='PROPEL'
(Other definitions for propel that I've seen before include "Launch" , "Push forwards" , "Derive of push forward" , "Drive or push forward as with oars" , "Give impetus to" .)