Viper – Modern Mopar Magazine

More than 550 Dodge Viper Enthusiasts Head to Detroit for a Special Open House – 20 years after the first Viper Homecoming

Lisa — Fri, 18 Jul 2014 16:51:48 +0000

The throaty exhaust note of the Dodge Viper’s mighty 640-horsepower V-10 engine will be roaring around the city of Detroit this weekend, as more than 550 loyal Viper enthusiasts are heading to the home of the Viper for a special Open House at several Chrysler Group facilities, where they will be able to get a behind-the-scenes look at where and how their American exotic hand-crafted vehicles are built and then put the cars through their paces.

The Dodge and SRT brands are hosting this gathering on what marks the 20th anniversary of the first Viper homecoming in Auburn Hills in 1994.

“With its 640-horsepower hand-built aluminum V-10 and hand-crafted body comprised of carbon fiber, aluminum, magnesium and high-strength steel, the Viper is a one-of-a-kind American exotic vehicle that is designed to reward each owner with pure performance and a high level of exclusivity,” said Tim Kuniskis, President and CEO, Dodge and SRT Brands, Chrysler Group LLC. “This flagship American supercar has inspired loyal Viper enthusiasts for more than 20 years and continues to do so, as is evident by the more than 550 people who are coming to this Open House.”

Over the course of the weekend Open House activities, attendees will have a chance to gather for lunch and a tour of the Conner Avenue Assembly Plant (CAAP) in Detroit where their cars were hand-built, visit the Walter P. Chrysler Museum in Auburn Hills, MI and also head out the Chrysler Proving Grounds in Chelsea, MI, to drive their Vipers on the test track.

Viper owners are also helping the local Detroit community by bringing a canned food item to the Conner Assembly Plant to benefit Operation Get-Down, a local crisis center supported by CAAP that provides homeless and transitional housing facilities for the Detroit area.

TI Automotive to Serve as Primary Sponsor for No. 91 Viper at Indianapolis

Lisa — Wed, 16 Jul 2014 18:59:29 +0000

New Partner TI Automotive Joins SRT Motorsports as Team Associate Sponsor for Remainder of 2014

July 16, 2014 , Auburn Hills, Mich. – TI Automotive will serve as the primary sponsor for the SRT (Street and Racing Technology) Motorsports No. 91 Dodge Viper SRT GTS-R in the IMSA TUDOR United SportsCar Championship’s Brickyard Grand Prix at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Friday, July 25.As part of the agreement, TI Automotive, a leading global supplier of automotive fluid systems, will partner with SRT Motorsports as a team associate sponsor for the remainder of the 2014 season.“TI Automotive is proud to be a partner with the SRT Motorsports team, as it provides us an opportunity to move our technical relationship with SRT engineers from the street to the track,” said Al Deane, chief technology officer for TI Automotive. ‘Our involvement in the series will also introduce TI Automotive to a wider audience by supporting an iconic race car at a truly iconic race track. We look at this sponsorship as fueling our mutual passion for street and racing technology development.”

TI Automotive currently supplies the high-performance fuel pump module system to the production Viper and the recently released Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat. The fuel delivery module system features the Automotive News PACE Award-winning Dual-Channel Single-Stage (DCSS) fuel pump, one of the industry’s highest-performing fuel pumps. This fuel delivery design enables the Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat to be the fastest and most powerful muscle car in history with 707 horsepower.

“On behalf of SRT Motorsports, I’d like to welcome TI Automotive to the team as sponsors of the No. 91 Viper SRT GTS-R,” said Ralph Gilles, President and CEO, SRT Motorsports, Chrysler Group LLC. “It’s exciting to see TI Automotive, who is a great partner on the product side, grow to support our Viper racing program and we look forward to working with them as a partner for the remainder of the 2014 season. As part of the sponsorship, a unique livery has been created for the No. 91 Viper to showcase the TI Automotive colors at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.”

In honor of the new partnership, the No. 91 Dodge Viper SRT GTS-R will sport a new livery for the IMSA TUDOR United SportsCar Championship’s Brickyard Grand Prix at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The vehicle will feature a white body with a bold, bright green stripe outlined in dark blue from nose to tail. TI Automotive’s blue-and-green Fluid thinking icon will sit atop the roof and on other key points across the vehicle.

“We think the SRT Motorsports group came up with a great look for a race car,” said Deane. “It’s certainly something that our 24,000 employees in 130 worldwide locations will be thrilled to see and cheer for. We look forward to seeing it on the track and in the winner’s circle.”

Wittmer to Pilot Dodge Viper SRT GT3-R in Toronto’s World Challenge

Lisa — Mon, 14 Jul 2014 17:27:08 +0000

SRT Motorsports and Kuno Wittmer to Compete in Pirelli World Challenge Toronto Doubleheader

SRT® (Street and Racing Technology) Motorsports and driver Kuno Wittmer will make a surprise entry into the upcoming Pirelli World Challenge Championship Series doubleheader race weekend in Toronto in a Dodge Viper SRT GT3-R that will compete in events on Saturday, July 19 and Sunday, July 20.

Wittmer, a native of Montreal, will pilot an all-new No. 92 Dodge Viper SRT GT3-R prepared by Riley Technologies in the ninth and 10th rounds of the sports car championship on the downtown Toronto street circuit in an effort to promote the SRT Motorsports’ customer Viper GT3-R racing program.

“It’s going to be a lot of fun to have Kuno step into the Pirelli World Challenge and test his skills in the Viper GT3-R against the top class in the series,” said Ralph Gilles, CEO of SRT Motorsports, Chrysler Group LLC. “This is a test Viper that Riley Technologies prepared and we see this race as an opportunity to showcase our customer program. We’ve had success in the series with Dan Knox taking the Viper to the winner’s circle during the Detroit race weekend and we want to continue building momentum with our Viper GT3-R program.”

Knox, who competes full-time in the World Challenge in the No. 80 Dodge Viper SRT GT3-R, ranks third in the GT-A class standings and claimed the Viper GT3-R’s first series victory in a May race on Detroit’s Belle Isle circuit.

Wittmer will compete in the World Challenge’s GT class in Toronto one week after racing at nearby Canadian Tire Motorsports Park (Mosport) for an IMSA Tudor United SportsCar Championship event in the No. 93 Dodge Viper SRT GTS-R, his full-time ride, on July 13. The native of Canada has tallied three podium finishes in six starts in the IMSA TUDOR series in 2014 and won the pole position for the Mosport race.

“I believe that the Viper GT3-R is a benchmark car across the world,” said Wittmer. “The Viper has a lot of potential and this is a great opportunity to showcase the car in the GT class.”

Wittmer previously competed in the World Challenge from 2008 to 2010 and tallied six victories in the series, including two Viper wins in Salt Lake City and Long Beach, Calif.

SRT’s Matt Bejnarowicz will serve as the lead engineer for the No. 92 Viper GT3-R entry. Bejnarowicz currently serves as the lead engineer for Wittmer’s IMSA TUDOR Viper and the pair previously worked together in the same roles in the World Challenge in 2009 and 2010.

“I spent a lot of time in the World Challenge as a race engineer and for me it’s like going back home,” said Bejnarowicz. “That’s where Kuno and I met and he had a lot of talent and potential. We ended up getting paired up, cut our teeth together and we’ve been together since. It will be like the old days – a lot of fun and we’re going to try to put the Viper up front.”

The Toronto race weekend is the only scheduled appearance for Wittmer and the No. 92 Viper GT3-R entry in the World Challenge. Knox will continue to run the full series schedule in pursuit of the GT-A class championship for Lone Star Racing and the Viper GT3-R racing program.

“Since his first race with us in 2006, we have enjoyed watching Kuno race. We look forward to seeing him racing on the Toronto street course,” said Scott Bove, president and CEO for Pirelli World Challenge/ WC Vision.

The ninth and 10th rounds of the Pirelli World Challenge will be contested at 11:25 a.m. EDT on Saturday, July 19 and 12:15 p.m. on Sunday, July 20. The race television broadcast will be aired on NBC Sports Network on August 10 at 1:30 p.m. EDT.

Additional Quotes from SRT® Driver Kuno Wittmer

Kuno Wittmer, driver of the No. 92 Dodge Viper SRT GT3-R
Are you excited to enter the Toronto doubleheader?
“It’s definitely a great step for the Viper program. I think the Pirelli World Challenge has evolved a lot over the past four or five years. The last time I raced in it was 2010 and it was already very competitive. Seeing how the championship has grown, it’s more competitive in all the right ways and it will be fun.”

Is it realistic to think you can win in your first appearance in the series since 2010?
“We can’t forget that this is a one-off appearance on a street course and we don’t get much track time. It’s tough. There are half hour sessions and if you get a red flag from another class, you can lose a lot of track time. It’s very vital that we get all our laps in as quick as we can, get the right setup right away and it’s going to be very, very important that everything goes as perfectly as possible. Luckily, it’s two races and not just one race – it’s a doubleheader, so we can afford to play around a little bit. Ideally, we would like to win. But let’s be realistic, get a solid result and showcase what this car can do.”

Is the purpose of this entry to showcase the Dodge Viper SRT GT3-R program?
“That’s exactly the purpose – to showcase this Viper GT3-R. The thought is, ‘Hey, there’s a Viper here that’s being built by Riley Technologies, so let’s show what it can do.’ This Viper has been on the market for sale to race teams and drivers for less than a year and we need to start showcasing that this car is a very competitive car against world class manufacturers and talent.”

Viper Team w/ 2 Podiums Finishes at The Glen

Lisa — Tue, 01 Jul 2014 03:06:57 +0000

SRT Motorsports Post-Race Report – Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen

SRT (Street and Racing Technology) Motorsports brought classic Viper Red livery back in a big way by doubling up on podiums in Dodge’s return to major league sports car racing in the Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen where the team’s Dodge Viper SRT GTS-Rs finished second and third in Sunday’s race on the New York’s Watkins Glen International circuit.

No. 91 Dodge Viper SRT GTS-R driver Marc Goossens chased race winner Antonio Garcia to the checkered flag in a thrilling one-lap dash to the finish, crossing the line a scant .185 of a second behind to earn runner-up honors with co-driver Dominik Farnbacher. The sister No. 93 Dodge Viper SRT GTS-R, with Jonathan Bomarito at the wheel, then crossed under the checkered flag just two seconds later for a third-place showing with co-driver Kuno Wittmer.

Both Dodge Viper SRT GTS-Rs worked towards the front in the first hour with Kuno Wittmer taking the lead 52 minutes into the race, and both teams would battle non-stop for the victory for the entirety of the race’s final three hours. All four drivers led at least one lap in the race and Dodge Viper SRT GTS-Rs led seven different times in the race’s six hours for a combined total of 21 laps in front of the GTLM class.

The double podium was the second for SRT Motorsports since returning to major-league sports car racing in 2012. In last year’s race at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park in Canada, Goossens and Farnbacher finished second in the No. 91 and Bomarito and Wittmer took third in the No. 93. Following the double podium in Canada, SRT Motorsports claimed its first victory in the next race at Wisconsin’s Road America, the team’s first since returning to competition in 2012.

The Watkins Glen results kept a perfect podium streak going for SRT Motorsports in this year’s IMSA TUDOR United SportsCar Championship endurance races. The No. 91 team finished third in the season-opening Rolex 24 At Daytona and the No. 93 squad finished second at the 12 Hours of Sebring. With today’s results, SRT is the only manufacturer to have a podium finisher in each of the three endurance events run to date. The final endurance race of the year, and the closing round of the North American Endurance Cup, is October’s season-ending Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta.

SRT Motorsports next competes in the SportsCar Grand Prix at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park in Bowmanville, Ontario near Toronto on Sunday, July 13. The event on the 2.459-mile circuit is the sixth event for the GTLM class in the 2014 season. The race can be seen live on FOX Sports 1 at 2 p.m. EDT/11 a.m. PDT.

SRT Motorsports Driver and Team Quotes

Marc Goossens, driver, No. 91 Dodge Viper SRT GTS-R
How would you describe today’s race?
“It was an interesting race. I really took it easy at the beginning of the race because there was a lot of fighting going on – a lot of door banging in the beginning, which I didn’t think was worth getting involved with and the car was good at the end. It’s a shame the yellow came out because the 3 car already confirmed to me that they were not going to make it on fuel. But then again, it happened to us last year at Road America. That’s part of racing. That’s part of the strategy, the gambling and they had a great car. They pulled away on every restart, so I think they did a great job. For us, I think the team did awesome. Pit stops were – the first one was maybe not the best, but all the others were spot on and I can’t thank the SRT guys enough for giving us such a great car. I’d also like to thank my teammate for driving a fast race, but also a clean race, which makes it easier at the end if you’re in for that final double stint. It did get to me physically, but I don’t think I was the only one doing double stints that was struggling at the end. We should be pretty happy coming away from here with second and third place and both cars on the podium.”

How did the heat and humidity impact the race?
“It was hot and I tried to find that little bit of extra power there at the end by turning off the AC for a little bit at the restart and you can’t describe how the heat gets to you at that point, but you have to get going. It’s a shame that a prototype dive-bombed me on the inside of turn one on the second-to-last restart because I think I could have made a good run on the 3 car. It’s also shame the last yellow came out because I was going to be in a position to put pressure on him. To bring this Dodge team back to the podium the first time we’re in the red-and-white livery, I think we should be very pleased with that.”

Dominik Farnbacher, driver, No. 91 Dodge Viper SRT GTS-R
What did you think of today’s race?
“It was up and down, up and down. We were a little bit unlucky at the end with the cautions. It allowed the leader to make it on fuel. It was really, really tight at the end. It was a little bit overwhelming. Marc (Goossens) did two double stints in the car, which was really tough on him. He did a great job. I’m really proud of my team – the mechanics, Bill (Riley) and all the guys for having an awesome strategy.”

How does it feel to finish on the podium with your teammates?
“We both finished on the podium at Mosport last year and now we’ve done it again – second and third here at Watkins Glen. It’s awesome. It’s great for the points and great for the team.”

Jonathan Bomarito, driver, No. 93 Dodge Viper SRT GTS-R
How was your race today?
“It was tough, hot and challenging both physically and mentally. The guys did a great job. We have two Vipers on the podium – second and third – and we did it in a tough race. It was six hours on a tough course with a lot of traffic, but I’m really happy with the crew. We worked hard on the car today making changes and we had one of the fastest cars at the end. It’s a shame we lost a little bit of track position because I think we had something to fight with at the end. It was good. I’m happy. We earned great points and we’ll move on to the next one and I think we’ll be real strong at Mosport as well.”

Kuno Wittmer, driver, No. 93 Dodge Viper SRT GTS-R
How tough was today’s event?
“The conditions were exhausting. My body just was not acclimating to the heat today. I was rejecting everything I put in my stomach. I have no explanation for it other than I drove my heart out when I was in the car. I tried forgetting about everything and I had the adrenaline level to compensate for all the issues going on with my body today. Either way, we finished second and third. We opted not to go to Le Mans to focus on this championship and here we are finishing second and third after a good month break during the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Everything is paying off and everything is moving in the right direction now.”

Would the Vipers have caught the winner if it weren’t for the caution?
“Yeah, we were going to get them. We definitely would have gotten them. I think we out-foxed a lot of teams today with fuel strategy considering that I got sick and the conditions and the yellows that we had, which were very limited. The crew is really, really good and the engineering is really sharp at determining new strategies as we go along. That’s really, really important at this point of the year. We’re just at the midpoint of the season.”

How do you feel moving forward to Mosport?
“I think we can aim for the highest step on the podium from now on. Not that we aren’t already, but the fact that we got so close and we were working really well together on track is encouraging. When I was racing with Marc (Goossens) or Dominik (Farnbacher) on track with the 91 Viper, we were just dancing together through the corners. We weren’t doing anything stupid, we didn’t not take any major risks and we were working as teammates and that’s what we need to keep doing.”

Ralph Gilles, president and CEO of SRT Motorsports
What do you take away from today’s race?
“It was an excellent race for us. The vehicle demonstrated winning capability throughout the whole race and we found our groove. It seemed like at the back end of the stints our tires would come in and the cars would really grip and be consistent. Traffic was a challenge. The guys did a nice job racing through a lot of back markers. It was a very exciting race to watch, but it was bittersweet. We know that with couple more laps we could have had the win. We finished with less than half a car length between P1 and P2, but I couldn’t think of a better way to run today going from P5 and P6 to where we finished. I’m really proud of this team and how far we’ve come in the last few months.”

Why have the Vipers had continued success in the endurance format?
“The Viper seems to be pretty bullet proof. We’ve had some very good runs and a lot of great reliability. Nothing went wrong and the pit stops were near perfect. Just a little bad luck here or there with regards to traffic, but otherwise the cars ran great. Endurance racing is the ultimate proof of mettle.”

Bill Riley, lead engineer, No. 91 Dodge Viper SRT GTS-R
How was your race?
“The good thing is the Dodge Viper was really strong. The paint scheme is great and the fans loved it. We had a good day and great strategy. Those last two yellows just hurt us and I think we would have had them and we worked hard on saving fuel the whole race so that we could play that strategy out. Unfortunately it just didn’t play out for us today.”

Did you change strategies during the race?
“When we saw what was happening with some of the cars speed wise, we figured this is what we need to do, but it started pretty early. We were surprised at the beginning of the race how few yellows there were and we thought it was going to go green for long periods of time, so we backed the strategy up pretty far on saving fuel to see if we could make it.”

Matt Bejnarowicz, lead engineer, No. 93 Dodge Viper SRT GTS-R
How was your race?
“I don’t think you can complain about two and three. We’ve been hunting for that top spot for a while. Coming out with the classic look kind of reminds me of the old days when I started with the Viper racing program back in 1998 and 1999. For me, I don’t know how you can complain about two spots on the podium with the classic colors.”

How significant is today’s finish?
“I think this is a good result, especially in an endurance race. I think what you’re seeing is that we tend to do pretty well in the endurance races and I think a lot of that is the strategy and the engineering that puts us in that position. I don’t know that we were the fastest cars out there, so we had to really think about how we could in position to win that race and I think the 91 did a really good job of that. I’m pretty sure if that yellow didn’t come out they would have probably ended up in front.”

New Time Attack Group on Anodized Carbon Special Edition Viper

Lisa — Wed, 16 Apr 2014 14:45:59 +0000

Shown for the first time today at the New York International Auto Show, the Chrysler Group’s SRT (Street and Racing Technology) brand is enhancing the ultra-exclusive, Viper Anodized Carbon Special Edition Package by combining it with the new Time Attack Group road-racing spec-package.

A total of only 50 SRT Viper Anodized Carbon Special Edition vehicles will be produced, with only 10 (Nos. 41-50) carrying the new Time Attack Group package. A numbered dash plaque identifying each of the SRT Viper Anodized Carbon Edition vehicles also is part of the package.

“We’ve received an overwhelming response to the unique Metallic Matte exterior color since first showing the Anodized Carbon Special Edition Viper late last year,” said Ralph Gilles, President and CEO – SRT Brand and Motorsports. “So we’re adding even more exclusivity with 10 distinctive SRT Vipers that combine our special exterior color with the new Time Attack Group of performance parts to offer our customers mind-boggling limits on their favorite road courses.”

The new Time Attack Group takes all of the functional chassis and aero parts from the Viper TA Special Edition and makes them available on the GTS price class. It includes a carbon fiber rear deck lid spoiler and two-piece front corner splitters to combine for a total of 339 pounds of down force at 150 mph. Also included are two-mode Bilstein dampers specifically tuned for optimal on-track performance and identifiable by their unique orange springs. Street and Race Mode suspension settings offer firmer damping than the Viper GTS. Pirelli P Zero Corsa tires, matte black lightweight forged-aluminum Sidewinder wheels and solid sway bars lead to even more capable handling. Track-duty two-piece Brembo brake rotors, adapted from the 2010 Viper ACR-X race car, add to an increased thermal capacity for additional resistance to brake fade.

As the first and only production application on a Chrysler Group vehicle, the Anodized Carbon Special Edition Package features Metallic Matte Black and satin surface finishes. Satin Black Vapor marks the exhaust bezels, fuel-filler door, and carbon brake ducts and a rear applique (below the liftgate) provide contrast to the Metallic Matte Black body.

An Alcantara-swathed interior with orange stitching adorns the SRT Viper Anodized Carbon Special Edition. An Alcantara headliner, Alcantara-wrapped knee blockers and door bolsters provide interior surface texture contrast, while gunmetal bezels, orange vent accents, and carbon-fiber trim further accent the interior. The Nappa leather and Alcantara-wrapped sport seats feature orange stitching.

About SRT Viper TA (Time Attack)
The street-legal SRT Viper TA is specifically built for the performance enthusiast driver who likes to exercise their machines at the more than 150 road-race courses around North America. Introduced in 2013, the Viper TA Special Edition spec package offers track enthusiasts a turn-key track set-up.

Based on the SRT model, the lightest Viper in the lineup, the TA Special Edition Package builds upon the vehicle’s ultra-low center of gravity, 50/50 weight distribution and largest contact patch in the production car world. The Viper TA uses chassis parts developed specifically by the SRT chassis dynamics team to attain the most out of the race-car-like chassis and create the most confidence inspiring Viper ever. SRT developed new spring rates, dampers, sway bars and brake components, combined as a system with the Viper’s available Advanced Aerodynamics Package, to create one of the most track-capable production cars in the world.

About Anodized Carbon Special Edition Package
Only 50 SRT Viper GTS models are being produced with the Anodized Carbon Special Edition package.

Part of the special edition package is the new Metallic Matte exterior color that is being used for the first time by the Chrysler Group to add to the exclusivity of the SRT Viper. The new Metallic Matte exterior body color brings the Viper GTS a one-of-a-kind, luxurious look by providing even greater accentuation to the vehicle’s form. The metallic finish adds depth while the dark matte color amplifies the Viper’s sinister quality.

Unique exterior accents include: Black Vapor Chrome five-spoke “Rattler” wheels, a Gloss Black GTS badge, Satin Black exhaust bezel, an Anodized Carbon fuel-filler door, orange brake calipers, carbon fiber brake ducts and a rear applique.

Luxurious interior accents include Alcantara wrapped headliner, door bolsters and knee blockers; orange accent stitching on the Nappa leather wrapped door trim, center console and instrument panel and on the Nappa leather and Alcantara seats. Orange accents also are added to the door panel and instrument panel. Carbon fiber accents are added throughout the center stack, door panels and steering wheel, and an exclusive carbon GTS badge adorns the dashboard.

Long Beach: SRT Pre-Race Release

Lisa — Thu, 10 Apr 2014 01:11:17 +0000

SRT Motorsports Pre-Race Release – Sports Car Showcase at the Long Beach Street Circuit

After claiming a pair of podium finishes and a pole in the season’s opening two endurance races, SRT (Street and Racing Technology) Motorsports will look to continue its success on Saturday, April 12 at the Long Beach Street Circuit, a track where the team achieved a number of firsts during the 2013 season. Run on Saturday, April 12, the Sports Car Showcase in Long Beach, Calif., will be the third event of the 2014 IMSA TUDOR United Sports Car Championship (TUSC).

In the team’s inaugural appearance in Long Beach in 2013, SRT Motorsports claimed its first pole position when Dominik Farnbacher recorded a record time on the track of 1:18.845 (89.857 mph). The No. 91 SRT Viper GTS-R of Farnbacher and Marc Goossens finished third in the race, the team’s first-ever podium finish. While the success at Long Beach in 2013 propelled the two-car team to continued success in 2013, including a win, five podiums and three poles, SRT returns to Long Beach with momentum coming off an even stronger start to the 2014 season. The Sports Car Showcase will be broadcast live on FOX Sports 1 on April 12 at 6 p.m. EDT.

SRT Motorsports Storylines for Long Beach

FIRSTS AT LONG BEACH: SRT Motorsports tallied three team firsts at Long Beach in 2013. Dominik Farnbacher claimed the team’s first-ever pole position when he posted a GT class track record lap of 1:18.845 (89.857 mph) in the No. 91 SRT Viper GTS-R. The No. 91 team of Farnbacher and Goossens went on to finish third in the event, the team’s first podium finish, and held the overall lead for two laps in the event, also a first for the two-car team.

STREAKING SUCCESS: The SRT Motorsports team arrives in Long Beach, coming off consecutive podium finishes – one by each Viper team – in the season-opening endurance races in Florida. After winning the pole for the Rolex 24 At Daytona, the No. 91 team with endurance race addition Ryan Hunter-Reay, finished third, and all six SRT drivers led the GTLM class in the race. In the next event, The Twelve Hours of Sebring, the No. 93 Viper finished second with drivers Jonathan Bomarito, Kuno Wittmer and endurance addition Rob Bell, and four Viper drivers led the GTLM class during the race. Dating back to the fifth race of the 2013 season, the two-car SRT team has totaled six podium finishes in the last nine events, including a win and three pole positions during that span.

LONG BEACH VICTORIES: In 2010, Wittmer captured a World Challenge event victory at Long Beach when he led flag-to-flag in a Dodge Viper Competition Coupe after winning the pole position, his first pole in the World Challenge GT class. Prior to joining SRT Motorsports in 2012, Farnbacher claimed a GT2 class victory at the track in 2008. After starting 17th overall, Farnbacher and his co-driver picked up four positions during the sprint race to finish 13th overall and first in the GT2 class.

SPRINTING TO THE FINISH: The TUSC race at Long Beach presents a new challenge for race teams coming off consecutive endurance battles – a sprint race on a street circuit. After 24-hour and 12-hour events, the series will battle on Long Beach’s 1.968-mile street circuit for only 100 minutes – an event that is less than seven percent of the length of the season-opening Rolex 24 At Daytona.

Dominik Farnbacher, driver, No. 91 SRT Viper GTS-R
Does SRT Motorsports have momentum entering Long Beach?
“We’ve had a very good start to the season with podiums for both cars in Daytona and Sebring. The Viper GTS-R is solid and our results are strong in a very competitive class. Long Beach was a good one for us last year and we feel encouraged heading back to the street circuit. We definitely know how to set-up a car at Long Beach because we had the pole position last year. After a third and second place so far this year, we badly want to reach the top step of the podium at Long Beach.”

How special was last year’s pole at Long Beach?
“It was the first pole for SRT Motorsports and it was good. I remember when I got out of the car everyone jumped on me. It was a great experience. It was important for the team and for that race. At circuits like Long Beach, they are only two-hour races – they are more or less sprint races for us and it’s very important to be in the top spot because it’s hard to overtake. It was important for us to be on the pole and lead the field for the first time and in that race.”

Marc Goossens, driver, No. 91 SRT Viper GTS-R
What experience do you have at Long Beach?
“Believe it or not, I have very little experience at Long Beach. Last year was my first time there. With the minimum amount of track time, I didn’t get to do that many laps. Dominik (Farnbacher, co-driver) qualified our car and took the pole position in 2013. My job was to start up front and remain in the lead until the driver change. I managed to do so and Dom drove a great race to score our first podium finish since the Viper’s return to this level of racing. Although I have very little experience there, I already have some good memories.”

Jonathan Bomarito, driver, No. 93 SRT Viper GTS-R
How would you describe the Long Beach race?
“Long Beach is fun. It’s enjoyable for me for a lot of reasons: a lot of friends and family get to come to that race, whether they’re traveling down from Monterey or already in Southern California; it’s a fun atmosphere; the weather is usually nice and hopefully it will be this year. It’s just a good event. For the fans, it’s a big party and for the racers it’s one of the best street courses there is, so it’s a lot of fun.”

What is the circuit like from the driver’s seat?
“Long Beach is a street course. It’s pretty bumpy. Street courses are typically a lot of 90-degree corners, relatively slow speed, but Long Beach actually incorporated some pretty long straightaways, some medium-to-higher speed corners and then you have the famous, really slow-speed hairpin leading on to the big, front straightaway. It’s a fun track. To be quick there, the car has to deal with the bumps, have good power down on the low-speed corner and still have some stability in the medium speed stuff.”

Kuno Wittmer, driver, No. 93 SRT Viper GTS-R
Why do you enjoy the Long Beach race weekend?
“I love Long Beach. Ever since I won there in 2010 in a Viper Competition Coupe, the track has held a special place to my heart. Looking back at last year, we did very well there, so Long Beach is a circuit that I am strongly looking forward to. Throughout my racing career I have always enjoyed short race weekends. I know that the teams, our tire sponsor Michelin and the engineers would like to see more track time, but there is always something special about a good old fashioned sprint race where you are flat out at 110 percent.”

Matt Bejnarowicz, lead engineer, No. 93 SRT Viper GTS-R
What makes Long Beach challenging?
“Long Beach is a very tough race. The race time is very short, so you must be mistake free – there is simply no opportunity to recover for any mistake whether driver, crew or strategy. Passing is very difficult and damage can occur very quickly – typically due to the hedges in the fountain corner. Historically, Long Beach is won by the team with the best strategy in the race. Because track position is so crucial, the timing stand needs to make the best strategic decisions to capitalize from any yellow flag conditions and the pit crew needs to be flawless to ensure no positions are relinquished on the one or two pit stops that the race will see. The engineering staff needs to setup the car to absorb the very rough street circuit and protect the tires for a long stint. Finally, the driver needs to be aggressive but make smart quick decisions. Starting from the front row on the grid is of course an advantage as well.”

What did it mean to win the pole and take a podium at Long Beach last season?
“Last year was a very special moment when we claimed the pole and climbed the podium for the first time. It was a firm confirmation that we were moving up in the competition and the result of hard work by many people. We knew we were on the right track after Petit Le Mans the previous year and also at Sebring, but we finally proved it at Long Beach 2013. It was a well-needed boost for the entire team.”

SRT Motorsports Team Lineup for the Long Beach Street Circuit

No. 91 SRT Viper GTS-R
Driver: Dominik Farnbacher (Germany)
Driver: Marc Goossens (Belgium)
Lead Engineer: Bill Riley

No. 93 SRT Viper GTS-R
Driver: Jonathan Bomarito (United States)
Driver: Kuno Wittmer (Canada)
Lead Engineer: Matt Bejnarowicz

Race Information
Name: Sports Car Showcase at Long Beach (race three of 11 for GTLM)
Date: April 12, 2014
Time: 6:10 p.m. EDT for 100 minutes
Track: Long Beach Street Circuit in Long Beach, Calif., 1.968 miles
Broadcast Information: FOX Sports 1 at 6 p.m. EDT, pre-race show begins at 5:40 p.m. EDT on IMSA.com

SRT Viper Sebring Winter Test Report

Lisa — Sun, 23 Feb 2014 00:17:42 +0000

No. 93 SRT Viper GTS-R Records Third-Fastest Overall Lap in GTLM

The SRT ® (Street and Racing Technology) Motorsports No. 93 SRT Viper GTS-R recorded the third-fastest overall GTLM-class lap time of 2:00.496 (111.738 mph) during two days of testing at Sebring International Raceway that concluded on Friday in preparation for the upcoming 12 Hours of Sebring, March 12 – 15.

SRT Motorsports drivers Jonathan Bomarito and Marc Goossens participated in all four scheduled practice sessions in the No. 93 SRT Viper GTS-R on Thursday and Friday. Each day featured morning and afternoon test sessions that spanned more than two hours each in preparation for the second event of the IMSA TUDOR United SportsCar Championship schedule at Florida’s legendary Sebring road course.

The SRT Motorsports No. 93 SRT Viper GTS-R recorded the third-fastest GTLM overall lap time of 2:00.496 (111.738 mph) across four test sessions in Thursday afternoon’s test. The lap was also the second-quickest GTLM time of that session.
The team’s second-best showing in one of the sessions came in Friday afternoon’s fourth and final practice of the test when the No. 93 SRT Viper team posted a best lap time of 2:01.099 (111.182 mph) to rank fifth among GTLM entries.
The two-day test was the final IMSA-sanctioned GTLM test session for series competitors prior to the 12 Hours of Sebring, March 12 – 15.
The SRT Viper GTS-Rs finished fifth and 10th at Sebring in 2013 and the race marked the first event in the first-full season for SRT Motorsports since returning to sports car racing with the Viper.
In the 2014 season-opening Rolex 24 At Daytona, the No. 91 and 93 Viper GTS-Rs finished third and sixth, respectively, and the No. 91 claimed the GTLM pole position. Both SRT Viper entries and all six SRT Motorsports drivers led the GTLM class during the race.
The No. 91 SRT Viper GTS-R did not participate in the Sebring Winter Test.

SRT Motorsports Driver and Team Quotes

Jonathan Bomarito, driver, No. 93 SRT Viper GTS-R
How was the test?
“It was a very positive test just from a systems point of view. We had a lot of things to try – not necessarily making the car go as quick as we could. Toward the end of the day, we started putting all those pieces together and working on pace and race stuff, but we got through a lot of stuff. The guys did an awesome job. The car ran perfect for two days and I think we have a good race car. A couple of our competitors went pretty quick there at the end, but we’re still pretty optimistic and positive looking forward.”

What did you learn in last year’s 12 Hours of Sebring?
“Last year in the 93 car was my first 12 Hours of Sebring. It’s a tough race. You think, ‘Oh, well 12 hours is half as long as a 24, so it should be half as hard.’ It’s equally as hard as a 24-hour race. It’s very physical. It’s bumpy. It’s usually pretty warm and humid and takes a toll on the man and machine, but I learned a lot as a driver what to do physically for the race. We had some bad luck here last year. We had a drive pin issue – we lost some laps and it kind of ended our race – but we pushed through and we had a good car and I feel very confident for the race coming up.”

Marc Goossens, driver, No. 91 SRT Viper GTS-R
How did you prepare for the test?
“In the beginning of this week, we were in Markham close to Toronto for simulator work. Spent some good time with Kuno (Wittmer, co-driver of the No. 91) together and Matt (Bejnarowicz, lead engineer of the No. 93), Jim Kasprzak (track engineer for the No. 93) and Tyler (Hook, track engineer for the No. 91) were there to help with engineering. We learned a lot in the simulator and then we came here, carried it over, tried to confirm and then take on the next step with regards to the testing program. I think everything is on schedule. We just have to bridge that gap to the leaders now.”

How was the test?
“We were kind of surprised by the speed the top guys were doing in GTLM – really surprised – but then again, you never know what people are testing when you come here for two days. We had a nice test program laid out prior to coming here. I’m not going to tell you that we panicked yesterday, but that first morning session with all the red flags there was a lot of stoppages going on. We were kind of worried that if that would have kept going on for two days we would have a hard time going through our program. Luckily enough today, the weather stayed good and we didn’t have so many red flags. From everything that we worked on prior to coming here – the whole program that we lined up – we could go through all that. With what we learned and what we found for an ideal platform, we could actually start working on fine-tuning toward the end, but it’s all a matter of what the track conditions are. Yesterday to today with the heat, it was such a big difference. Once again, we were very, very surprised about the performance of the guys in the front. Hopefully we have enough for them by the team we come here for the race.”

Bill Riley, lead engineer, No. 91 SRT Viper GTS-R
How was the test?
“I think the team worked well. The cars all ran pretty flawlessly – we didn’t have any mechanical issues to keep us from running, which is pretty good. The car had a good test and ran a lot of laps. We went through a bunch of different things and we’re not where we want to be speed-wise, but the car is comfortable to drive. We just have to see what happens for the 12 Hours. I think we have a strong pace, so we can for run a long time, but we just have to see – on ultimate pace, we’ll just have to see where we’re at. All of the normal unknowns.”

How does this test allow you to prepare your race setup?
“Setup is a challenge here at Sebring for a lot of reasons. You have (turn) 17, which has some huge bumps to deal with. Turn one is always challenging and then you have the pavement that changes from the backside of the track to the concrete part of the track and then you have the IndyCar rubber that they put down on the test course on top. You’re really fighting quite a few different challenges throughout this event.

Matt Bejnarowicz, lead engineer, No. 93 SRT Viper GTS-R
Did you get to where you need to be during the test?
“Our competitors are looking pretty fast, but we definitely got pretty happy drivers and I think we made a lot of small steps in the test. Whether it’s going to be enough for the race, we’ll have to find out.”

Have there been any surprises?
“No, not really, actually. We unloaded and we’re getting to the point where we’ve got a lot of experience under our belt and we’ve been to tracks several times now, so we unloaded at a pretty good state and our drivers were pretty happy right of the bat. I think we progressed through the test. I think we probably chased the track a little bit. I don’t know if our lap times reflect the improvements we made in the car, but I wouldn’t say there were any big surprises. The big unknown I think is a little bit of tire compatibility – we’re not really sure how the Michelin tires work with Continental rubber down on the track and I think we keep on seeing a little bit of influence there, but that’s hard to quantify.”

25 Year Anniversary: Viper Concept Vehicle

Lisa — Mon, 27 Jan 2014 21:10:42 +0000

In 1989, at the first North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) held in Detroit, Michigan, the most-significant, show-stopping, crowd-pleasing concept car had no top or side windows.

The original Dodge Viper concept vehicle was offered by the Chrysler Corporation as homage to the concept forged by the Shelby Cobra of a generation earlier.

The simple formula of a big engine stuffed into a muscular roadster with no frills, tied to the ground with road course-ready suspension and wide, sticky tires showed the global automotive fraternity that Chrysler wasn’t shy about putting its engineering chops and enthusiastic soul on display for world view.

The original Viper prototype was constructed by Metalcrafters, a Southern California fabrication and engineering shop. Resplendent in a vibrant red finish, the car was a sensation among the automotive press, NAIAS show-goers, and the automotive enthusiast community at large.

Viper put the Italian supercar contingent on notice that brute force and ignorance could handily trump multi-valve engines and dainty gated shift linkages, regardless of pedigree.

Public reaction was so positive that Dodge appointed veteran chief engineer Roy Sjoberg as leader of Team Viper, an elite squad of 85 engineers charged with bringing the dramatic Viper concept to series production. Three years later, at the 1992 NAIAS, final-production Viper vehicles were reaching anxious customer hands.

The 2014 SRT^® Viper and all of the road, racing and Grand Touring Vipers that have gone before it, owe their very existence to the iconic concept vehicle first shown 25 years previously.

Source: driveSRT.com

On the Podium at Daytona: #91 SRT Viper GTS-R

Lisa — Mon, 27 Jan 2014 20:37:30 +0000

The No. 91 SRT^®Motorsports Viper GTS-R team claimed a third-place GTLM class finish in the season-opening Rolex 24 At Daytona, the inaugural event of the new IMSA TUDOR United SportsCar Championship, with drivers Dominik Farnbacher, Marc Goossens and Ryan Hunter-Reay piloting the car to the podium result.

Each driver of the No. 91 led laps in their opening stint after the team started from the pole. However, the group had a power steering fluid line rupture in the overnight hours and rushed to the garage for repairs. The SRT team returned to the track after a rapid, 15-minute repair in the garage and fought constantly for the rest of the race to regain positions and laps while also keeping an eye on the attrition of the GTLM competition. The team was down a number of laps to the leader at one point before engineering the comeback for a podium finish.

“The performance was good, but the kind of racing this is now you have one little mishap and you have to fight your whole way to get back,” said Bill Riley, vice president and chief engineer of Riley Technologies, after the race. “We had a power steering line fail. We got 12 laps down and we ended up four laps down by just continuing to fight. It’s a shame because we didn’t have any other issues besides that. After that, the hood or the body never had to come off the car, so it was pretty much a flawless run besides that. We fought all day, we didn’t give up and we’re on the podium.”

The podium finish was the sixth for SRT Motorsports team since returning sports car competition in the 2012 season. The third-place showing also put Viper back on the podium at Daytona International Speedway after winning the 2000 Rolex 24 overall in the marque’s last appearance at the World Center of Racing.

The sister No. 93 SRT Viper GTS-R finished sixth after the team started the race in a similarly competitive situation as the No. 91. After starting third in class and seeing each driver – Rob Bell, Jonathan Bomarito and Kuno Wittmer – each lead at least one lap in their respective race-opening driving stints, the No. 93 quickly joined the No. 91 as the primary class pacesetters in the first third of the race.

Coincidentally, just minutes after the No. 91 returned to the race after the nighttime repair, a contact incident forced the No. 93 from the lead lap and into a lengthy run of pit-side repairs to fix the front end. Like the No. 91, Bomarito, Bell and Wittmer fought back from several laps down and back into the top five top-five in class by mid-morning on Sunday.

By then, the No. 91 had worked its way up to fourth place, one spot ahead of their teammates, but any hope of the No. 93 moving even further up in the running order quickly came to an end when a second problem emerged. The entry came to a stop on course with a driveshaft flange issue that put an end to any SRT dual podium aspirations as the No. 93 lost several laps back in the garage for additional repairs.

Despite the No. 93’s disappointing finish, SRT Motorsports should be well positioned in the early season point standings for the TUDOR GTLM Team Championship.

The IMSA TUDOR United SportsCar Championship moves on to race at Florida’s Sebring International Raceway on Saturday, March 15, for the annual 12 Hours of Sebring.

Source: driveSRT.com

#91 SRT Viper on the Pole for Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona

Lisa — Fri, 24 Jan 2014 13:02:53 +0000

SRT Motorsports Captures GTLM pole for Rolex 24 At Daytona International Speedway

SRT® (Street and Racing Technology) Motorsports driver Marc Goossens captured the GTLM class pole for Saturday’s 52nd running of the Rolex 24 At Daytona with a fast lap of 1:44.506 in the No. 91 Viper in Thursday’s qualifying session.

Close behind Goossens, fellow SRT driver Jonathan Bomarito was the third-fastest GTLM entry in qualifying with a quick lap of 1:44.617. By virtue of qualifying first and third, the SRT Motorsports Viper GTS-Rs will start nose-to-tail on the inside row for the 2014 edition of the endurance race.

In practice, the No. 93 SRT Viper GTS-R team was fastest in both the afternoon and evening sessions with times of 1:45.016 and 1:44.992, respectively. The No. 91 SRT Viper GTS-R team recorded a best time of 1:45.233 in the afternoon practice.

Following Thursday’s qualifying session and trio of practice periods, the team will return to the track for a final, 60-minute practice session on Friday at 11:30 a.m. EST before the Rolex 24 At Daytona begins on Saturday at 2:10 p.m. EST.

SRT® (Street and Racing Technology) Motorsports Viper GTS-R driver Marc Goossens captured the GTLM pole for Saturday and Sunday’s Rolex 24 At Daytona with a fast lap of 1:44.506 in the No. 91 Viper in Thursday’s qualifying session.
The No. 93 SRT Viper GTS-R team qualified third in class with a time of 1:44.617 with driver Jonathan Bomarito behind the wheel at Florida’s Daytona International Speedway.
The pole was the first for Goossens with SRT Motorsports. His co-driver, Dominik Farnbacher, captured one pole in the No. 93 SRT Viper GTS-R in 2013 (Long Beach), while the No. 91 RT Viper GTS-R claimed two poles in 2013 (Mosport and Road America) with Bomarito at the wheel.
In addition to qualifying, the SRT Motorsports team participated in three practice sessions on Thursday – a morning, afternoon and evening session – with the No. 93 team posting a best time of 1:44.992 in the afternoon session where they were fastest in class. The No. 91 was the fastest GTLM in the afternoon session when they posted their top time of the day (1:45.233).
On Wednesday, SRT Motorsports drivers participated in local community events. Marc Goossens and Kuno Wittmer visited a group of children at Florida’s Camp Boggy Creek that morning. Jonathan Bomarito and Dominik Farnbacher spent time with patients at the Halifax Health Speediatrics facility, an in-patient pediatric unit, with the Austin Hatcher Foundation in the afternoon.
Kuno Wittmer, a triathlete, also participated the RacersWhoRide.org charity photo opportunity in the Daytona International Speedway Victory Lane to promote cycling safety on Wednesday.
Following the evening practice, the SRT Motorsports Viper GTS-Rs will next participate in a final practice for the Rolex 24 on Friday, Jan. 24.
The Rolex 24 At Daytona will serve as the inaugural event for the new IMSA TUDOR United SportsCar Championship with a start time of 2:10 EST on Saturday, Jan. 25.

Marc Goossens, driver, No. 91 SRT Viper GTS-R
How did it feel to capture the GTLM pole for the first race of the United SportsCar Championship?
“The car felt good all day long and we’ve been working both on speed and trying to make the car easier in traffic, which we tried in the earlier sessions. It’s always hard to find out what the others have up their sleeve for qualifying, but we kind of knew early on we had a good car. We didn’t know if it was good enough to be third or first. We were on a good run at the end of last year and we carried that into this year and our team has only gotten stronger in all different areas and it’s just awesome to be here with SRT Motorsports on pole for the first race of the year. There’s no better way to start the season! It was a good run by the 93 (Jonathan Bomarito) too and you can tell it’s very close in GT and it could go any way. Having the pole is not the most important thing for a 24-hour race, but it helps – it boosts the confidence for the whole team. I think it’s a good starting point to get a good first 24-hour race.”

What does this say about your team?
“We’ve come a long way within, let’s say a year and a half, with this program. The 24 Hours of Daytona is always a special event and to start the new championship, the new year, with a pole position is something that we’re all proud of and the credit goes to the whole team. It’s not just the driver who is behind the wheel for that fast lap. But now we have to carry that whole spirit into the race and be there on Sunday afternoon.”

Jonathan Bomarito, driver, No. 93 SRT Viper GTS-R
How was the team’s qualifying effort?
“I think everybody with Team SRT is very happy to be starting this year’s 24 first and third on the grid. Qualifying is great for the team and the guys and provides momentum going forward for the race. It gives you that little extra pump of adrenaline and energy and optimism. It’s a long race in the end. Qualifying doesn’t mean a whole lot for a 24-hour race other than the inside and momentum for the guys.”

Dominik Farnbacher, driver, No. 91 SRT Viper GTS-R
Did you enjoy the visit to the Halifax Speediatrics unit on Wednesday?
“It was good to work together with the Austin Hatcher Foundation at the Halifax hospital. It was good to see those little kids smile when we worked on those pinewood cars together. It really feels good to take some time and hang out with those kids. We had quite a lot of fun crashing the pinewood cars on the ramp. Eric reminded me of myself because I was always trying to crash the cars, so he was more or less a little reflection of myself.”

Ryan Hunter-Reay, driver, No. 91 SRT Viper GTS-R
Has the car improved since the Roar?
“Knowing how hard these guys have worked since the test and how good the car was at the test, we’ve definitely made it better. I’m just really proud of the team for putting it there. Qualifying is not the end all be all for a 24-hour race, but certainly it’s indicative of all the hard work we’ve put in and, hopefully, of the pace to come in the race. I’m just really happy to be here with SRT with this driver line-up and really proud of Marc. Marc’s still the quickest guy out there after all these years.”

Kuno Wittmer, driver, No. 93 SRT Viper GTS-R
Was the evening practice productive for the team?
“I think it went well. The car is really good. It’s very good driving at night with the Viper. You can see very well at night. The car has good lights on it. Not anything out of the ordinary tonight and I think we have a very good package. Coming from qualifying, we have a very good package for the race. The car is consistent and very good on and off our line, so we should be pretty nice. Driving at night is always something that’s different for the driver compared to the nighttime. It’s definitely a period of adjustment for the eyes, you have to get your brain adjusted too and just recognize your reference points when you’re on track. I think we’ve got the right package right now.”

Rob Bell, driver, No. 93 SRT Viper GTS-R
What are your thoughts on the team’s qualifying performance?
“It’s great to start the year with a pole, isn’t it? They both (Marc Goossens and Jonathan Bomarito) did a great job. It was close between the top four or five cars, so Marc did a great job to pull it out with some really serious company here.”

What does this pole mean for the team?
“It’s more a statement of intent really. In a 24-hour race, yeah it doesn’t really matter, but we all want the pole and anybody who says they don’t is lying. It means the car has come a long way and we’re near where we want to be and this bodes well for the rest of the year. It gives everyone a pat on the back for the hard work during the winter and a bit of confidence.”

Ralph Gilles, president and CEO of SRT
How important is this pole for SRT Motorsports?
“It’s a great accomplishment to come down to Daytona and take the pole for this historic event and the first race for the new series. It speaks to the development of this SRT Motorsports team in just a few short years and shows where we’re headed. It took a lot of work to get to this point and we have great momentum moving forward. But we also know this is a 24-hour race that isn’t won on the first lap, so we certainly still have work ahead of us to be successful in this endurance race.”

Bill Riley, lead engineer, No. 91 SRT Viper GTS-R
What did you think or your team’s performance in qualifying?
“It was really good to get the No. 91 on the pole and get the No. 93 Viper GTS-R up there. It gives us a lot of momentum going into the race. We kept the drivers in the car all day to work on setup. We tuned the car and worked really hard between the Roar and now to improve the cars and we did with setup and different changes. The guys really haven’t had a day off since we left Daytona, or left Petit (Le Mans) for that matter. It’s really good to have it all pay off. Now we just have to put our heads down and work on execution and hopefully have a nice, clean race and go from there. Right now, it really couldn’t be better.”

Matt Bejnarowicz, lead engineer, No. 93 SRT Viper GTS-R
How pleased are you with your team’s qualifying session?
“I don’t think it could get any better than that, honestly. We’ll be the first two teams in our column, so they can work as a team and work the first part of the race to get a good start. Couldn’t have planned it better if I was trying.”

Does the qualifying result speak to the growth of the SRT Motorsports program?
“It’s pretty incredible. It really just speaks to the people behind it. The team has been working their butt off. They’ve had about two days off since the end of last season. I’m really happy for them because it’s justification for all their hard work to put the cars in front. The drivers, the crew, the engineering staff – everybody has just been pulling together and they’re all working on the same mission. I’m really just happy for the whole team.”

Gary Johnson, SRT racing manager
How was today’s qualifying effort?
“Fantastic job by the entire SRT Motorsports team. Marc (Goossens) really put down a great lap and we were trying to get the top-two positions, but we just missed that. Overall, we’re really looking forward to the race. It’s going to be 24 hours of struggle of course, but I think we’ve obviously got a great chance for a win.”