Welcome to the glorious contradiction that is the Bentley Continental GT3-R.

It’s neither a road-going race car nor a homologation special, but at the same time, it’s no ordinary luxury grand tourer either.

What it is is the fastest accelerating, most focused road car Crewe has ever made, and just 300 GT3-Rs will be built in tribute to Bentley’s return to international motorsport after a decade away.

The Continental GT3, campaigned in the Blancpain Endurance Series, first broke cover at the 2012 Paris Motor Show and Bentley received so many expressions of interest that a road-going version was a no-brainer.

Bentley Continental GT3-R rear

While the woofling twelve is capable of more power and torque, the Audi-derived bent-eight is more responsive and urgent and is also the basis of the engine used by the GT3 race car. With new turbos, a titanium exhaust and recalibrated ECU, it develops 426kW/700Nm.

That titanium exhaust clears its throat in spectacular fashion when you start the engine, with over-run crackles and pops that pique your interest. A 100kg weight loss and shorter final drive ratio makes this the only Continental capable of dipping under four seconds to 100km/h, and when you finally reach the bottom of the throttle travel, it feels fast, but not excessively so.

Bentley Continental GT3-R interior

Inevitably, given that Bentley’s actual racing Continentals are little more than 1300kg, you wonder how much more weight could have been taken out of this car. But not for long, because the GT3-R dazzles you with its overpowering material richness, steadily laying waste to your cynicism.

Nobody does lavish material majesty quite like Bentley, and the GT3-R wouldn’t be nearly as appealing without its lacquered carbonfibre, knurled aluminium, yards of beluga hide and diamond-quilted alcantara. It could definitely be lighter – but I’m not sure it’d be worth the trade.

GT3-R one of 300

It’s still more a sporting GT than an out-and-out sports car, but it corners flat and level, there’s plenty of tactility to the steering and you can string apexes together with precision. Flick the transmission lever across to ‘S’ and the car feels keen and poised, with impressive throttle response, and it is possible to get the car moving around on a trailing throttle – just a bit, but enough.

The trick to understanding this most sporting of Bentleys is not to dwell on the first three characters of that ‘GT3-R’ badge. To be frank, you can tell the name was conceived before the car, as it just doesn’t describe the finished product all that well. Perhaps that’s why Bentley claims ‘R’ stands for Road, not Race.

Bentley Continental GT3-R back seat

While local prices haven’t yet been confirmed, overseas the car carries a 70 per cent premium over the regular GT V8 S, putting Australian prices at around the $700,000 mark. A lot of money, but then, it’s a lot of car.

Specs

Engine: 3993cc V8, DOHC, 32v, twin-turbo Power: 426kW @ 6000rpm Torque 700Nm @ 1700rpm Weight 2195kg 0-100km/h 3.7sec (claimed) Price $700,000 (estimated)