Chrysler's SRT team went to the Nürburgring today with one mission — to kick the ever-living crap out of the Lexus LFA and the Corvette ZR1. They succeeded. The 2010 Dodge Viper ACR set a new major automaker production car (excluding artisanal automakers like Gumpert and Radical) record run of the Nordschleife in just 7:12 and change.
And we've got an exclusive set of pictures of the record run below.
In 2008 the Dodge Viper ACR went to the Ring and established a major automaker production car one lap record time of 7:22.1 on the Nürburgring, a record that stood until 2011. This summer the Corvette ZR1 came to the Ring with new Michelin Pilot Sport Cup tires and beat the Viper record, laying down a blazingly fast 7:19.6. Even more recently, the $400,000 special Nürburgring Edition Lexus LF-A set down a blazingly faster time of 7:14.6.
With no 2011 model year Vipers being built, SRT turned to Tomball Dodge who supplied two brand-new 2010 Dodge Viper ACR's off of their showroom floor. Mintgen Motorsport, a well-known automotive shop based just a few miles from ze Nürburgring helped provide local logistics and garage support.
Right now we only have the word of SRT. There's no video of the record 'ring run yet. Nor do we know exactly what that "change" is — so we'll have to wait until the results are made official. We'll have the specifics as soon as we get them in our grubby li'l hands.
Oh, and also, the SRT folks brought along a Dodge Viper ACR-X, which tore up the track with a stunning 7:03..and change. Those coy bastards.
Photo Credit: PistonSpy.com