SRT Viper Set for Return to the 24 Hours of Le Mans

Join us for a Twitter chat with SRT(Street and Racing Technology) CEO, Ralph Gilles, SRT Motorsports Driver and 2012 24 Hours of Le Mans Winner, Ryan Dalziel and SRT Director of Marketing, Beth Paretta on the Return of the Viper to the ‘24 Hours of Le Mans’

What: The 24 Hours of Le Mans is the world’s oldest active sports car race. The first event was held in 1923 and for driver and machine; it’s the ultimate test of speed, efficiency and endurance. Participation is by invitation only as the Automobile Club de l‘Ouest (ACO) selects the 56 entries. This year’s race is set for June 22-23 at Circuit de la Sarthe in Le Mans, France.

SRT Motorsports accepted an invitation in February from the ACO to field a two-car team in the LM GTE Pro class. Two identically prepared SRT Viper GTS-Rs will return to the Le Mans stage more than a decade time since finishing one-two in the GTS class three consecutive years – 1998-2000.

Join Ralph, Ryan and Beth as they discuss the excitement of the return of the Viper to the 24 Hours of Le Mans, learn about the race car and what it takes to keep up your adrenaline for more than 24 hours!

Who:

• Ralph Gilles, President and Chief Executive Officer – (SRT) Street and Racing Technology Brand and Motorsports, Chrysler Group LLC
• 2012 24 Hours of Le Mans Winner and newest SRT Motorsports driver, Ryan Dalziel
  
  • Ryan will team with Le Mans veteran, Marc Goossens and Dominik Farnbacher in the No. 53 SRT Viper GTS-R for the 24-hour race
• Beth Paretta, Director of Marketing and Operations – SRT Brand and Motorsports

When: Thursday, June 13 at 8PM (Eastern)

How:

• To follow the chat:
  
  • Log on to Twitter.com/TeamSRT
  • Search #TeamSRT
• To submit questions for the chat use #TeamSRT

via Automobilemag

Adding more credence to rumors that Chrysler’s SRT brand is developing a more-powerful, supercharged engine called “Hellcat” are these spy photos. Our shooter caught a Dodge Challenger SRT8 that appears to be a test mule for a new engine.

Rumors suggest that the Dodge Challenger will receive a supercharged 6.2-liter V-8 engine, with power ranging anywhere from 560 hp to 640 hp. It would sit above the existing Challenger SRT8, which has a 6.4-liter V-8 with 470 hp. The idea is to compete, at least in terms of raw horsepower, with rival muscle cars from the Motor City. The Ford Mustang Shelby GT500′s supercharged 5.8-liter V-8 makes 662 hp, while the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1′s supercharged 6.2-liter V-8 offers 580 hp — both of which make the Challenger SRT8′S 470-hp figure look comparatively wimpy. One source hints the new Dodge Challenger engine could be backed by a version of the eight-speed automatic transmission that is already spreading throughout all Chrysler Group vehicles.

These spy photos appear to show a development mule packing the Hellcat V-8. The first clue comes from the enlarged brakes, which appear to have enlarged calipers and cross-drilled front discs for increased stopping power. Out back, the pair of round exhausts appears different and larger than those on a standard Dodge Challenger SRT8, and our spy photographer says the produced a sound “nothing short of thunder.”The 20-inch chrome wheels are unique, too. The biggest clue of all, however, is that the test car is missing its driver’s-side headlights. That could mean engineers are experimenting with new air intake systems, potentially drawing cool air from where the headlights normally sit.

The rumored engine would likely debut by 2014 in the 2015 Dodge Challenger. So far, however, Chrysler officials have declined to comment on the possibility of the Hellcat V-8 engine.

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Enjoy the holiday everyone!