 |
| The Viper GTS-R, later called the GTS-R/T, has a rich history of motorsport victories and championships. (Photo: DaimlerChrysler) |
"We knew when we introduced the Dodge Viper GTS-R race car that it was ambitious, yet extremely logical," said John Fernandez, Director, Dodge Motorsports Operations. "We set out to develop a history and tradition for the ultimate American sports car - and the Dodge performance icon - that would cast a halo over every racing endeavor, and every car and truck we built."
It's true that the Viper GTS-R has done a great deal to rally North American sports car fans around the Dodge brand. It's also shed some much needed light on the Chrysler brand in Europe, the name it flew under when entered into Le Mans.
 |
| What a giant improvement over both the old RT/10 and GTS. The thought of a more rigid coupe version with even more power is otherworldly. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press) |
"The Dodge Viper has exceeded our highest goals for what an American sports car should be," continued Fernandez. "And now, as loyal Dodge owners receive their versions of the third chapter in the car's history - the 2003 Dodge Viper SRT-10 - we can't lose sight of the heritage that Viper has built. And with that, we've developed a new generation of the Dodge Viper racing car - the Viper Competition Coupe."
No doubt Viper fans will want to see such globally dominant performances repeated in the new Competition Coupe, a race bred dynamo that could put the fear of sucking exhaust fumes into GM and its Chevrolet ALMS Corvette C5 R if properly prepared. But for now, disappointing as Mopar fans may be, the new coupe is only set to compete in less glorified series' with no plans to enter a factory-supported team in the American Le Mans Series or 24 Hours of Le Mans.