LE MANS, FRANCE — The new face of GT Class racing is here. It’s the SRT Viper GT3-R, a new V-10 powered thoroughbred ready for world-class competition. The SRT Viper GT3-R is the latest generation of the successful Viper GTS-R, designed and developed by Chrysler Group’s SRT (Street and Racing Technology) Motorsports team. The similarities between the SRT Viper street car and the non-street legal GT3-R are deliberate.
And according to Ralph Gilles, President and CEO – SRT Brand and Motorsports, Chrysler Group LLC, the Viper GT3-R is a culmination of nearly two decades of racing development making for a robust sports car that is at home at tracks all over the world.
“The SRT Viper GT3-R is the next logical progression of our successful Viper GTS-R, a championship-proven formula that has captured some of the world’s most prestigious races,” Gilles said. “Like every Viper race car, the GT3-R is a direct descendant of the SRT Viper street car. There is no mistaking the similarities between the two which is a key component of this class of sports car racing. The GT3-R stays true to the visceral appeal of the Viper and has been carefully evolved for the demands of racing at a world class level.”
The new SRT Viper GT3-R is a collaboration led by Riley Technologies in Mooresville, N.C. with SRT Motorsports. Riley Technologies specializes in the design, manufacturer and support of winning race cars. Riley has built racing-winning cars from Daytona prototype endurance cars to GT competition cars. Their resume includes multiple U.S. endurance championships race wins – including the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona for nine consecutive years – and multiple GT Class championships.
The SRT Viper GT3-R is the direct descendent of the high performance GTS-R campaigned by SRT Motorsports in the LM GTE Pro Class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the American Le Mans Series (ALMS). The technology developed by the Chrysler Group for the factory GTS-R for engine, chassis, suspension, electronics and aerodynamics is incorporated into every Viper GT3-R.
The chassis has been equipped with a highly-efficient aerodynamic package to optimize handling. Other features include Xtrac six-speed sequential transmission with paddle shifters, six-piston front brake calipers with four-piston rears, lightweight wheels and a multi-disc race clutch for maximum performance from the V-10 engine.
Viper’s legacy began in December 1991 when the first production Viper rolled off Detroit’s New Mack Avenue assembly line. In 1996, the Viper GTS coupe made its debut as did the Viper GTS-R race car.
In 1996, from the work of the same dedicated team of Viper engineers and car enthusiasts came the Viper GTS coupe. It was destined to be raced on the biggest stage. And so it was in 1996 that the Viper GTS-R race car made its debut. Viper GTS-Rs would go on to post three consecutive 1-2 class finishes at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, win overall at the 24 Hours of Daytona, capture multiple international endurance titles, five FIA titles and 16 national GT championships. To extend this same racing pedigree to private customers, the Viper Competition Coupe was introduced in 2003 and developed further for its GT3 class debut in 2005.
Highlighting its numerous victories around the world are two national GT3 championships and a World Challenge GT title. The die had been cast then for what we now have today: the SRT® Viper GT3-R.
Orders are now being taken for late 2013 delivery. The price of the new SRT Viper GT3-R is estimated at $459,000 USD.
From PR Newswire Association LLC
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