This new, ten race spec series will commence on July 9-10, 2010 and will consist of two races per weekend for five weekends. This seems to be a strange time to begin a racing series considering the fact that 2010 will be the final year for Viper production, but Chrysler->ke21 has made it obvious that they will be going out with a bang and trying to make some money in the process.
Follow the jump to see the full story including the Dodge Viper Cup racing schedule and future special edition Vipers plus the full press release.
The Dodge Viper Cup featuring the ACR-X model will take place on the following dates and tracks:
- July 9-11 at Virginia International Raceway, Alton, Va.
- Aug. 14-15 at Hallett Raceway, Jennings, Okla.
- Sept. 11-12 at Pocono Raceway, Long Pond, Pa.
- Oct. 1-3 at Miller Motorsports Park, Tooele, Utah
- Oct. 22-24 at Daytona International Speedway, Daytona, Fla.
In addition to the ACR-X model, Dodge will also be bringing out a few more special edition Vipers as previously promised. The first two to be debuted will be the Viper ACR 1:33 edition and the Voodoo-edition. The Dodge Viper ACR 1:33 Edition will feature a two-tone Black Clear Coat/Red Clear Coat exterior with an interior consisting of piano black console bezels with red gauge highlights and red accent stitching in the seats. The 2010 Voodoo-edition Viper ACR will have an all-Black Clear Coat exterior with a Graphite Driver’s Stripe outlined in red which will parallel the striping found on the steering wheel. Only 20 of the Voodoo-edition models will be produced.
Press Release
The next chapter in the storied racing history of the Dodge Viper is being written as the first 2010 Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR-X rolled off the assembly line at the Conner Avenue Assembly Plant in Detroit on Monday, March 29. Built for road racing enthusiasts, the Dodge Viper ACR-X combines the best performance attributes of the record-setting, street-legal Dodge Viper ACR (American Club Racer) and the safety equipment of championship-winning Viper Competition Coupe.
"The 2010 model year is going to be unique for the Dodge Viper in many ways both on and off the track, so to kick it off with production of our ultimate special-edition Viper ACR-X is our way of paying tribute to the performance engineering expertise of our SRT team, combined with the passion and dedication of Viper Nation, to keep the tradition going strong," said Ralph Gilles, President and CEO, Dodge Brand. "With its amazing on-track performance, the Viper ACR-X is going to seriously turn the heads of all road-racing enthusiasts, whether it is the grassroots driver all the way up to the professional."
The SRT-developed 8.4-liter V-10 engine that powers the Viper ACR-X is equipped with factory headers and a low-restriction exhaust system that produces 640 horsepower (40 more than production model) and 605 lb.-ft. of torque (45 more than production model). Following the initial build at the Conner Avenue Assembly Plant, each engine is shipped to a dynamometer lab where it is verified for proper outputs and electronically sealed before being sent back to the plant for final installation.
The suspension on the Viper ACR-X also is tuned and upgraded specifically for on-track usage, while the overall vehicle weight is lightened by a full 160 pounds (versus the standard production Viper) to take on even the most challenging road course. Additional aerodynamic upgrades improve downforce, while enhancing stability and significantly improving grip in high-speed cornering.
Similar to the Dodge Viper Competition Coupe, the non-street legal Viper ACR-X boasts safety features such as factory-designed and installed fuel cell and race seat and factory-designed roll cage. Additional racing components are added to meet the significant durability and reliability requirements for on-track competition.
Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) for the 2010 Dodge Viper ACR-X is $110,000.
Dodge Viper Cup
The Dodge Viper ACR-X will make its competition debut on July 9-10, 2010 in a newly developed, 10-race spec series called the Dodge Viper Cup, which will be sanctioned by the existing Viper Racing League. Vehicle sales of the Viper ACR-X will be used to self-fund the racing efforts.
Two races per weekend for five weekends will make up the 10-race 2010 Dodge Viper Cup schedule which includes the following:
- July 9-11 at Virginia International Raceway, Alton, Va.
- Aug. 14-15 at Hallett Raceway, Jennings, Okla.
- Sept. 11-12 at Pocono Raceway, Long Pond, Pa.
- Oct. 1-3 at Miller Motorsports Park, Tooele, Utah
- Oct. 22-24 at Daytona International Speedway, Daytona, Fla.
Each vehicle in the new series must be the new Dodge Viper ACR-X. A contingency program sponsored by Dodge Motorsports and Mopar will pay out more than $200,000 during 2010. Payouts for each race are in cash and Mopar vouchers come as credit toward purchase of Mopar parts and accessories.
Additional cash awards will be made to the top-3 finishers in the Dodge Viper Cup. The 2010 champion will win $25,000, second-place will receive $10,000 and third-place will pay $5,000.
Conner Avenue Assembly Plant
The Dodge Viper ACR-X is built on the same production line and using the same quality manufacturing techniques as the street-legal versions of the Dodge Viper.
"We're proud to be the exclusive home of America's ultimate performance car," said Shelly Gordon, Plant Manager – Conner Avenue Assembly Plant, Chrysler Group LLC. "For 15 years, our dedicated workforce has hand built a vehicle that inspires dreams and captures the imaginations of young and old. That passion and attention to detail continues with the launch of some of the most unique Dodge Vipers ever built."
Production of the Dodge Viper began in May 1992 at the New Mack Assembly Plant and was moved to Conner Avenue Assembly Plant in Oct. 1995. Viper V-10 engine production was transferred to Conner Assembly from Mound Road Engine in May 2001. In 2003, the Viper SRT10 roadster hit the market, and the current generation Viper SRT10 Coupe followed in 2005. In March 2008, production began on the new Viper ACR (American Club Racer) - the highest performance street-legal vehicle ever built at Conner Assembly.
Wide Array Of New Special, Limited-edition Models
To celebrate the final production year of the current-generation Dodge Viper SRT10, Dodge plans to deliver a vehicle lineup like no other since the introduction of the iconic American sports car in 1992.
Numerous special, limited-edition models are planned for the 2010 model year, including the Dodge Viper ACR 1:33 Edition, which pays tribute to the production car lap record set on Nov. 24, 2009 at Laguna Seca raceway. The unique two-tone Black Clear Coat/Red Clear Coat exterior color scheme on this model is the opposite form of the original Viper ACR. Interior highlights include piano black console bezels with red gauge highlights complemented with red accent stitching in the seats. Only 33 cars will be produced as 1:33 Edition Viper ACR models.
The 2010 Vooodoo-edition Viper ACR will feature an all-Black Clear Coat exterior with a Graphite Driver's Stripe outlined in red. Only 20 cars will be produced with the unique striping on both the exterior, as well as on the steering wheel.
Additional special-edition models will be announced closer to their individual introductions. Pricing on the 2010 Dodge Viper lineup also will be announced at a later date.