Gallery: the Mercedes-AMG GT R Pro at TG24

This thing is seriously quick. It'll lap the Nürburgring in 7min 04.6secs - a whole six seconds faster than the GT R. Hence its appearance at TG24, where we're trying to find the best drivers' cars of the past year.

"V8 BITURBO" is what that would say if you could see the full vent-badge. The Pro retains the same twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8 as the standard R, with the same 577bhp and 516lb ft of torque on tap. If the lack of a power upgrade disappoints you, please seek professional help.

The real changes have been made to enhance the Pro when things get twisty. As such, there’s a track pack with a roll-cage and super-nerdy, ultra-adjustable coilover suspension. 

“Brutish but useable,” is how Rowan Horncastle described the GT R Pro when he drove it on UK roads. 

“You’d expect something developed for the track to be a nightmare; overly stiff, invidious, hard to live with. But the Pro is no more hassle than the normal GT R.”

None of those worries here, though. 

Welcome to the latest edition of "Harris in harnesses..."

Aero - the Pro has lots of it. In fact, there's 99kg more downforce than the standard GT R at 155mph.

“The amount of grip available is astonishing,” said Jason Barlow when he first drove the Pro at Hockenheim…

Once again, we must extend huge thanks to Repsol for their help with TG24. Pit garage number 35 was a popular visiting spot. 

Portimao Circuit. What a place...

For a front-engined car, the Pro really is an impressive track weapon.

The interior is of course stripped back. Screens for buttons on the centre console though? What was wrong with, y'know, buttons for buttons?

As the sun starts to set the GT R Pro gets a slight break. Those rear tyres have been well used...

What do you think of the Pro? If you could, would you shell out £188,345 for one? Bearing in mind, of course, that an even more track-focused 'Black' version is almost certainly on the horizon. Crikey...