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After a ten-year absence, the Dodge Viper will be returning to Grand-Am Rolex Series racing in 2012 under the Racers Edge Motorsports team name. As we found out from Allpar.com, that means fiercer competition, more field diversity and the remaking of a legend. We just hope that the Viper’s many years away from the Rolex Series won’t hinder the model’s ability to dominate when faced with the highest level of sports car endurance racing in the United States.
After racing Mazdas and Pontiacs for the last four years, Racers Edge decided to go a different direction for the 2012 season, bringing back the Viper to the Rolex Series. Before its ten-year hiatus, the Viper did quite well in the Rolex Series with three race cars in the top five finishers at the 2000 Rolex 24, a GTS class win in 2001 and a 13th place finish in the 2002 Rolex 24.
Racers Edge is currently preparing two Vipers for the 2012 Grand-Am season. The No. 85 car will act as a test vehicle while the No. 87 Viper will be co-driven by Doug Peterson and Jan Heylen in the Rolex Series. The Vipers will join the No. 87 Dodge Challenger SRT8, set to be driven in the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge and also piloted by Peterson and Heylen, in the Racers Edge paddock.
To make sure the Viper is ready for its comeback, SRT Motorsports Engineering has been working with Grand-Am officials and suppliers to build an engine for Racers Edge that meets all of the Grand-Am Series’ requirements. In addition to the V10s that will be powering the Competition Coupes, the Vipers will feature lightweight composite bodies, tubular steel space frames and four-wheel ventilated-rotor brakes.
With its agility and heritage, the Viper is meant to race, so it’s about time that the model made its way back into the Rolex Series. We look forward to seeing the model confront the ultimate test of speed and reliability in Grand-Am racing and hope to see Racers Edge and the Viper accomplish a podium position next year.
