Even though the Dodge Viper is currently not in production, it is still managing to shake down track records across the globe. In 2008, a then new Viper SRT10 ACR traveled to Germany to tackle arguably the most famous race track in all of Europe: the Nürburgring Nordschleife. With racing driver Tim Coronel at the controls, the v10 track rat established a production car record for the track that lasted for years. In August 2011, Toyota took the record away with their Lexus LFA Nürburgring Package supercar, which more than likely got under skin of a few Viper enthusiasts. So with a 2010 SRT10 ACR pulled straight off the showroom floor, Mopar went at it again and has officially reclaimed the production car record at the 12.9 mile Nürburgring: 7:12.13.
“We’re extremely proud to set the lap record for a second time at the famed Nürburgring Nordschleife,” said Ralph Gilles, President and CEO – SRT Brand and Motorsports, Chrysler Group LLC. “Our team returned to Germany knowing we’d left some time on the track when we set our first lap record, so this effort shows the incredible depth and capability the Viper ACR has by running a full 10 seconds faster than we did in 2008.”
Dodge couldn’t have accomplished this feat alone as they received help from the Viper Club of America and the ViperExchange from Tomball Dodge team from Tomball, Texas. Tomball supplied two still-fresh 2010 track ready but street legal ACRs for the attempt and with GT racing driver Dominik Farnbacher behind the wheel, the record run was set on September 14. Farnbacher stayed at the Nürburgring for a few days blasting out test runs and waiting for the optimal weather. With 600 horsepower and 560 lb-ft of torque from its 8.4 liter V10, a shorter fifth gear ratio compared to older models, gobs of aerodynamic bits allowing for 1,000 lbs of downforce at 150 mph, adjustable dampers and sticky Michelin Pilot Sport Cup tires, the 2010 Viper ACR is a seriously fast car. And now it has one more record to put under its belt.
Source: Dodge
