Bentley has announced the rarest and most dynamic member of the esteemed Continental family of Grand Tourers with the arrival of the new Continental GT3-R.

The car is inspired by the new Continental GT3 race car that stormed to victory at the second round of the Blancpain Endurance Series at Silverstone.

Blending proven track and road credentials, the Continental GT3-R is a highly exclusive and unique interpretation of performance-focused luxury, limited to just 300 examples, all hand-built in Crewe and finished in Bentley's Motorsport division.

The bonnet incorporates two vents to improve the cooling capacity of the powertrain system for repeated accelerations while also invoking the shape of the Continental GT3 racer in a styling element where form follows function.

All Bentleys are a combination of luxury and performance, and the Continental GT3-R is no exception. Featuring a unique two-seat cabin handcrafted from carbon fibre, Alcantara and the finest leather, the GT3-R is as breathtaking in its approach to interior design as to its dynamic ability.

Bentley engineers have developed a retuned version of Bentley's race-proven and high-performance 4.0-litre twin turbo V8 for this new two-seater GT. Developing 572bhp and 700Nm of torque, together with a 100kg weight reduction and shorter gearing, the Continental GT3-R is the fastest accelerating Bentley ever.

This increased power is fed through the Continental's eight-speed ZF automatic gearbox, now with shorter output gearing to enhance acceleration, to a further development of Bentley's renowned all-wheel drive system, which now features torque vectoring for the first time.

A soundtrack appropriate to the new levels of performance is provided by an all new titanium exhaust, which not only provides a weight saving of 7kg but also has allowed Bentley's acoustic engineers to give the GT3-R a unique baritone roar.

Air springs and dampers use a development of the sports-tuned setup from the Continental V8 S, already recognised as the best handling Bentley ever, while lightweight forged 21-inch wheels and high-grip Pirelli tyres deploy the torque-vectored power output of the engine.

Order books for the Continental GT3-R are open now in the U.K., with deliveries to start late in 2014.