2014 Bentley Continental GT3-R revealed

The Bentley Continental GT3-R proves that a year is a long time in motorsport. Just 12 months after Bentley unleashed the awesome and, quite frankly, terrifying Continental GT3 racing car at the 2013 Goodwood Festival of Speed, we’re being treated to a road-going version.

With 580hp and a bold makeover it's certainly not for the faint-hearted. As you'd expect of a car that is Bentley's fastest production model ever...

Let’s start with the killer headline - its pace. According to Bentley, the Continental GT3-R will pummel its way to 62mph in just 3.8 seconds, or 0-60mph in 3.6 seconds if we’re using good old-fashioned British timing standards.

Pah, you might say, what’s 3.8 seconds in a game of Top Trumps? A Ferrari 458 Speciale will do the sprint in 3.0 seconds, a Porsche 911 GT3 in 3.5. But neither of those weighs in 2,195kg. Which is about the same as Chipping Norton.While 2.2 tonnes remains decidedly heavy, that is still some 100kg lighter than a Bentley Continental GT V8 S. That’s because Bentley has put the Continental GT3-R on a strict weight-saving diet.

It’s not stripped back in the same way as the race-going GT3 – which is nearly a tonne lighter than the production car – but with details such as a set of lightweight forged 21-inch alloy wheels and an all-new titanium exhaust help keep the road-going Bentley’s weight down.

On the bonnet you’ll find a pair vents which - while clearly providing a link to the GT3 racing car - are also tasked with ensuring this high-speed luxury suite stays cool on the road.

For while it’s powered by the same 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 as the regular Continental GT V8, output is up to 580hp and 518lb ft of torque.

You know that this thing will sprint to 62mph quicker than any road-going Bentley in history, but it’s also worth noting that the GT3-R will go on to a top speed of 170mph. Which is actually slower than the standard car.

This is due to the unique close ratio gearing that helps it accelerate to quickly. Bentley claims the Continental GT3-R is a 'Grand Tourer with the performance of a racer'. And we’re inclined to agree with them.

If you’ve ever tried stopping a five-star hotel room at 170mph, you’ll know what a job it can be. Which is why Bentley has had the sense to fit some extra large anchors to the Continental GT3-R.

The Carbon Silicon Carbide (CSiC) braking system features 420mm discs and eight-piston calipers at the front, plus 356mm discs at the rear. Bentley claims the brakes deliver enough energy to power a family home for six hours. So maybe we can get an environmental grant to run a GT3-R for a year?

So, it goes fast in a straight line and has serious stopping power, but how well will the Bentley Continental GT3-R handle? Well, given that this is the first Bentley in history to offer torque vectoring, we suspect the answer to that is 'pretty well'.

The drivetrain is able to control the torque at each of the rear wheels, with Bentley also recalibrating the software to provide a wider gap between Drive and Sport modes. According to Bentley, Sport is designed for 'more spirited driving'.

If, up until this point, you’ve been drooling over the photos and not paying attention to the words (and who could blame you), you will have noticed that the Continental GT3-R bares more than a passing resemblance to the GT3 racing car.

Sadly, the mahoosive rear wing and ‘avoid-speed-humps-at-all-costs’ front splitter have gone, but there are still one or two notable additions to ensure your GT3-R stands out from the common or garden Continental GT.The front splitter and rear wing - both of which are significantly smaller than the racing car versions - are both finished in carbonfibre, while all cars will be finished in Glacier White paint.

Further links to the GT3 racing car are provided by the contrasting two-tone green decals, as well as the headlight surrounds, grille, window surrounds and bumper strips, all of which are finished in gloss black.Make no mistake, this thing will sound like Thor clearing his throat after polishing off a packet of extra-hot wasabi peanuts.

That’s thanks to the titanium exhaust, which Bentley claims has allowed it to give the GT3-R 'a unique baritone roar'. It’s also 7kg lighter than the standard systemInside the GT3-R, you’ll find that things aren’t quite as stripped-back as the GT3 racing car. There are just the two seats, though, and a sporting blend of carbonfibre, Alcantara and leather.

The green theme is also carried through to the inside, with contrasting stitching and GT3-R badges.

If you fancy getting your hands on the fastest-accelerating road-going Bentley in history, you might need to be as quick heading down to your local Bentley dealer.

Only 300 will be built and UK buyers will need to share the allocation with Bentley fans across the world. And the vast majority of the firm’s output is exported.