Chrysler/Dodge Viper GTS-R attacking Goodwood hillclimb course w/ iconic V10 engine sound!

Here’s a video about one of the most iconic GT race cars ever built: the Viper GTS-R. This in particular is about two special examples I recorded in the last two editions of the Goodwood Festival of Speed, both brought to the event by Art&Revs and driven by Florent Moulin. One is the ex-team Oreca ’Playstation’ car (chassis C41), which finished a fabulous 14th overall and 3rd in class at the 2002 Le Mans 24 Hours and it was at Goodwood in 2022. The other is the only true GT1 Viper built, constructed in 2005 by Exagon Engineering to celebrate Alain Prost 50th anniversary, who decided to return to competition in the thrilling French GT FFSA for the occasion. The GTS-R was born because Dodge wished to showcase the potential capabilities of the new car, mostly in the realm of handling. At the same time, Dodge also hoped to increase sales in Europe where importation of the Viper had struggled. Dodge’s parent, Chrysler, therefore approved the development of a racing program centering on the Viper GTS which was still in development at the time. Chrysler believed that in order to adapt their car not only for North American but also European circuits, they would require outside assistance. In 1995 the development of the car started in partnership with French company Oreca, which would build and maintain the cars, and British company Reynard Motorsport, which was in charge of building the chassis and other integral parts before they were shipped to Oreca for assembly. The Viper GTS-R was built under the GT1/GTS-1 class rules in order to be raced in both the FIA-GT and the North American IMSA GT championships. Oreca was chosen to run Chrysler’s official factory teams in Europe. For North America, Chrysler would recruit the Canaska/Southwind Team as their factory effort. As soon as its racing career started in 1996, Chrysler understood that the GT1-class wasn’t suitable for the GTS-R due to the presence of GT monsters such as the Porsche 911 GT1, McLaren F1 and later the upcoming Mercedes CLK, etc. Instead the Viper would make a perfect GT2 contender and as a first step the class victory at Le Mans was a more reasonable project. Starting from the GT1 basis, Oreca and Mopar Performance spent the winter of 1996/97 re-engineering the car to GT2 specifications and developing a proper racing engine with Caldwell. As a result the Viper won the FIA GT2 championship out pacing the Porsches, the absolute reference in GT for decades, but failed at Le Mans. For 1998 the GTS-R saw considerable development with a lighter chassis, better aero, much improved suspension and a more reliable engine. For the 1998 and 1999 seasons, Oreca Vipers had no real opposition and largely dominated the FIA-GT, Le Mans and ALMS. 2000 would be the last year of Oreca as a factory team, this final season seeing intense battles with the all new and more advanced Corvette C5R built upon new regulations. In 2001 the regulations changed as the GT world saw the advent of the new GT1 category. The Viper still had considerable potential and was upgraded with improved specifications and developed by the private teams. In an ultimate effort, Oreca developed in 2003 a new GT1 upgrade package for the Viper (generally the GTS-Rs featuring larger rear wings are, in theory, in GT1 trim). Although the production cars have mostly been known as Dodge Vipers, the Dodge brand did not sell the Viper in Europe. Because the new cars, named GTS-R, were built in Europe, they were mostly known as Chrysler Viper GTS-R. However cars racing in North America usually ran under the Dodge banner, making them Dodge Viper GTS-Rs. This naming difference therefore depends on location and region. The cars themselves actually carried no badging for either Chrysler or Dodge, with only the Viper GTS-R name appearing on the side of the bonnet. The Viper is powered by a V10 engine which was able to produce 620hp at 6,500 rpm and 800 Nm of torque and linked to a 6 speed manual gearbox. #DodgeViperGTSR #ChryslerViperGTSR #ViperGTSR -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I have to thank my friends and youtubers @Italiansupercarvideo, @MattyB727 and @NM2255 for the amazing collaboration done during the event. Don’t forget to subscribe to their channels!! -- Subscribe to my 2nd channel here: You can also find and follow me on: - Flickr: - Facebook: - Instagram: - Camcorders: Canon Legria HF G30 & GX10 Canon DM-100 Microphone, Sony AX-53 Audio Technica Microphone, Sony FDR AX700 with Audio-Technica Microphone - Event: Festival of Speed 2022 & 2023 - Where: Goodwood, England THANKS FOR WATCHING AND SUBSCRIBE!!!