A private team finally gave Viper fans something they’ve waited for: a Nürburgring time.
The Viper Owners Association started raising the fund to tackle the ‘Ring record through a GoFundMe page this past January. With support from enthusiasts, the team raised a staggering $177,000 for the record attempt. Kumho tires and Michigan-based engineering firm Prefix also joined in as sponsors to make sure the run could happen.
With the funds, the team secured a pair of Viper ACRs from a Texas dealer known as the Viper Exchange. Both cars came completely stock aside from a commemorative GTS-R white and blue livery. Kumho even supplied the team with two sets of OEM-spec Ecsta V720 tires.
The fifth-gen Viper ACR is no stranger to track records. It’s racked up 13 of them during its tenure, the most of any production vehicle to date. The most notable record came at Laguna Seca in October 2015 when it bested the Porsche 918 Spyder by over a second. It conquered the famous corkscrew track in 1:28.65 with the 918 only managing 1:29.89.
Strangely, with all the records Dodge never bothered to take the ACR to the Nordschleife. Probably because like us they realized the time was irrelevant.
The first run at the ‘Ring was a washout due to heavy rains at the track. But on Wednesday, July 26 Mother Nature cooperated and allowed the team to put in some runs. With German racer and SRT factory driver Dominik Farnbacher at the wheel, the Viper had its best chance to capture one more record.
Unfortunately, the ACR was unable to best the 6:57 set by the Porsche 918 Spyder this time around. With a time of 7:03.45 it still managed to beat an impressive list of cars, including the fourth generation Viper ACR. Other victims of the run were the Mercedes-AMG GT R, Nissan GT-R Nismo, and the Corvette Z06.
The team still holds out hopes it can fit a few more runs in while in Germany. While the ACR may be down on power compared to the 918, the sub-seven-minute barrier looks just within reach.
However it ends up, we feel this is a fitting way to say goodbye to the Viper for the second time.
See more articles on Dodge, Nurburgring, and Viper ACR.
