Painted in Green Hell Magno after its Nurburgring spiritual base and air-freighted in from Germany, the Mercedes-AMG GT R will this weekend make its local debut at Australia’s premier motoring circuit – Mount Panorama, before the annual Bathurst 12 Hour race.

Although the left-hand drive hardcore coupe still wears Affalterbach number plates, and will be driven around our famous 6.172km track by five-time Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (DTM) champion and AMG brand ambassador Bernd Scheider, production right-hand drive models will arrive in Australia in July priced from $349,000 plus on-road costs.

The figure undercuts the $360K tag expected for the 430kW/700Nm GT R, thrusting AMG’s most track-focused model against the 397kW/610Nm 911 Turbo at $384,600 plus on roads. Plus, the facelifted 991 Series II GT3 is only weeks away from a Geneva motor show reveal.

Mercedes-AMG GT R driving

The monstered 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine makes peak torque between 1900rpm and 5500rpm, before peak power arrives at 6250rpm and drills through the seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. The 1555kg GT R claims a 3.6-second 0-100km/h – not quite 3.0sec-quick like 911 Turbo – teamed with a 318km/h top speed.

Mercedes-AMG GT R racing

Meanwhile, familiar V8 Supercars driver Shane van Gisbergen will help punt the #22 Mercedes-AMG GT3 entry at the weekend’s Bathurst 12 Hour race, alongside Schneider in #83 and David Reynolds in #61 – all contesting a win in the outright GT3 class.