Viper ACR Nurburgring Attempt Shows Promise After First Test
A tale of proud Americans supporting an automotive icon and defending the legacy of the Viper around the ‘Ring.
Hey guys, it looks like this might actually happen. The Dodge Viper may hold a Nurburgring record again. We told you a few weeks ago about the privateer effort to get some Vipers over to Germany to make a run at the record, and now the attempt is actually happening. There are two GTS-R Commemorative Edition Viper ACRs in Germany, and with expert piloting and a little luck, America could stand proud with a production car record.
After a few snags and weather issues, the team was able to complete a timed run of 7:03.45. That time is still around six seconds off of the goal of beating the old record of 6:57 set by the Porsche 918. However, that time is also a nine second improvement on the old Viper ACR record. Of course, there is that elephant in the room of the Lamborghini Huracan Performante, but for now we are going to ignore that. Especially with people still complaining about the Lambo’s “cheater tires” issue. There will be doubt of the veracity of the Viper’s times as the cars are bone stock factory cars, straight from a dealership, so Road and Track is out there keeping an eye on things.
Instead, let’s focus on the original goal and the progress that has been made. When this project started, the aim was to beat the 918. The goal was to prove that America really can make some of the best cars in the world. The Viper ACR holds nearly every track record that matters in the United States, and dammit, it’s a matter of pride and duty that we play on the world stage. The Viper may now be dead, but that doesn’t mean that Dodge should just let its legacy flounder. The ACR is a performance marvel, and that is why we, the fans and lovers of this outrageous sports car donated to this project.
We want the Viper’s swan song to be one of triumph and exultation. We don’t want this American icon to fade softly into the night. It’s not how America does things. We are a nation of action, unending drive and achievement. It is still a long shot for the Viper to make up the six seconds it needs to beat the 918, and a lot needs to go right to make it happen. But we believe it can happen. The Viper’s performance is worthy of world-wide recognition. That is why we are doing this. It is for the honor and dignity of the Dodge Viper and for America.
Keep it locked here to find out just how fast the Viper ACR really is after all the testing is done. You better believe we are watching this story closely.
