Last month, Fiat-Chrysler announced that Dodge would absorb the SRT performance brand and bring the Viper back into the fold. The first indication of that change is now apparent.
In addition to the name change, the SRT Motorsports Viper GTS-R racers have shed their skin, replacing the current silver livery with the classic red-and-white colors worn by Viper racers in the 1990s and early 2000s.
the new-old look recalls the Vipers that won an overall victory at the Rolex 24 at Daytona and a GTS-class win at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2000, and American Le Mans Series championships in 1999 and 2000.
Dodge introduced a new Viper in 2003 and a Competition Coupe racer that was aimed more at weekend warriors than professionals. This generation of Viper was discontinued in 2010 amid Chrysler’s financial troubles. It would be two years before a new Viper replaced it.
After an 11-year hiatus, a pair of Viper GTS-Rs returned to Le Mans for 2013. However, SRT Motorsports sat out Le Mans this year to focus on the Stateside Tudor United SportsCar Championship (USCC).
The re-skinned Vipers will debut at the next USCC race, the Sahlen’s Six Hours of the Glen in Watkins Glen, New York, the weekend of June 27-29. Whether they win or lose, they’ll definitely look good.
