The modern SRT Viper GTS-R race program made its less-than-triumphant return to the 24 Hours of LeMans race last year and with a strong finish to the 2013 combined with a strong start to the 2014 endurance racing season – many Mopar racing fans expected this to be the year where the Viper would head back to LeMans, beat the Corvettes and maybe even nab a class win. Unfortunately, the Chrysler Group has announced that the Viper Racing program has declined the invitation to race in this year’s 24 Hours of LeMans race, instead focusing on the American racing program as they look to make a bigger splash in the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship.
The SRT Viper GTS-R program has looked very good in the first two events this season with nothing but a few mechanical issues standing between the Vipers and victory in 2014. The Viper was clearly the quickest car at the Rolex 24 and even after being slapped with all sorts of power and weight restrictions before Sebring – the teams still had strong showings at the second race of the season. More importantly, the Vipers have beaten the Corvette Racing teams in each of the first two events as late mechanical issues took the Corvettes out of the races in Daytona and Sebring.
The Vipers are strong and the Corvettes are not. This would be the year that the American supercar battle waged on French turf would bring about a Chrysler Group winner – but all of those hopes are dashed as the teams won’t be making the trip the LeMans for the race which is arguably the most important event in the world of endurance racing. From a fan’s perspective, this news completely sucks but perhaps saving the money required to travel to France for the 24 Hours of LeMans race will be better used in helping the Viper GTS-R win a few races and taking a run at the 2014 TUDOR United SportsCar Championship for production based vehicles.
The SRT Viper’s will be in action on April 11-12 when they take on the street course of Long Beach California for the 100 minute long shootout. Considering that mechanical issues have prevented the SRT and Corvette Racing teams from winning in Daytona or Sebring, this short race could allow the American supercar atop the podium instead of yet another Porsche. Hopefully, that supercar will be the Viper GTS-R.
"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.
"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.
"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.
"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.
"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.
