Despite the stiffer suspension, big rear wing, weight diet and stickers, the 580PS Bentley Continental GT3-R is not the first car one would choose for a track outing.

Even though Bentley has managed to make it 100 kg (220 lbs) lighter than the Continental GT V8 S it’s based on, the GT3-R still weighs 2,195 kg (4,839 lbs), which is simply absurd for a car that uses the GT3 moniker in its name.

So what’s the point of the GT3-R? Chris Harris wanted to find out and took it for a spin on the circuit. Although he did find it rather enjoyable to drive, the truth is the only reason for which the car exists is for Bentley to justify a link between its GT3 race program and its road cars.

Chris Harris says the GT3-R is a great road car and not a track-focused machine as Bentley pitches it. As long as people understand that and don’t mind owning a Bentley with stickers and a rear wing on the boot, it’s fine.

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