The years of the Viper.

[Dorifto]

Hey guys,

When is Dodge going to factory-back their Vipers agian? I remember back about 2-3 years ago when the backed car dominated the GTS class for all International racing. I'm guessing it's becuase the SRT-10 is still a relativly new car, however it's kinda embarrasing watching all the privately-owned teams get their asses handed to them...

 

[The359]

Chrysler pulled the plug on their Viper program at the end of 2000 after much success because they wanted to go to the next level, the prototypes. They had first tried prototypes in conjunction with the Vipers in 2000 with a modified Reynard, then built their own car from scratch for 2001.

However at the end of 2001 Chrysler management decided that the project wasn't needed, and it was cancelled, leaving Oreca to run the prototypes on their own in 2001, then finally pull out themselves.

It is rumored that Oreca has bought a collection of Viper SRT-10s to modify and test, and it's possible we'll see the Vipers back.

The only problem with this is the fact that the SRT-10's engines are too large for GTS class anymore, the maximum limit is 8.0 Liters, the old Viper GTS-Rs were 7.9L, but the SRT-10 is 8.3L.

They'll have to destroke the current engines or find a way to use the old GTS-R engines.

 

[VIPFREAK]

Well, at this point I don't think they are getting back into racing, rather suppling cars to privateers so they can embarras themselves and the car again. I think there already doing that in JGTC series along with the Speed GT series. I remember seeing some Speed GT races with the new Vipers in them and most of them were either crashed or out because of mechanical problems.

 

[The359]

A Viper Competition Coupe won a round of the Speed GT at Laguna Seca, and the Taisan Viper won in class around of the JGTC in the wet. That's both this year.

Add to thise the Larbre Competition Viper GTS-R taking 3rd place in GTS class at the LeMans 1000km.

So you obviously have no clue what the Vipers are really doing.

 

[Dorifto]

I just want them to be factory-backed again.

 

[Cap'n Jack]

I saw a viper on TV in the american lemans run into a wall and yeah...I think it was road alanta.

 

[Blake]

The Vipers dominated the GT2 class for a long time when they were factory backed. The Viper is one of my favourite cars and I would like to see it dominate again also. But if they don't get factory backing, I think we can safely say that the era of the Vipers is over.

 

[The359]

Originally posted by radicool02
I saw a viper on TV in the american lemans run into a wall and yeah...I think it was road alanta.

The only team running the Viper in ALMS is Carsport America, who also has been attempting to run the Pagani Zonda GR.

Of course, running into a wall is not necessarily the car's fault...

 

[Cap'n Jack]

Hehe, I saw one of the viper's run into a wall, it would of hurt!