Chrysler unveils new Viper GT3 car

Chrysler has unveiled a new racing version of the SRT Viper developed for the FIA GT3 and United SportsCar Racing GT Daytona classes.

The new SRT Viper GT3-R is being developed by the same Riley Technologies team that has masterminded the US manufacturer's return to the Le Mans 24 Hours this year under the banner of its Street and Racing Technology brand.

The car shares its heritage with the GTE-spec Viper GTS-R: it runs the same suspension and body moulds but is powered by a standard version of the road-going muscle car's 8.4-litre V10 powerplant.

SRT motorsport boss Beth Peretta said: "This project has been spurred on by our customers; the first one is already sold.

"We believe that the market is there for this car, but we aren't talking about numbers yet. We are still testing the temperatures."

Riley Tech boss Bill Riley revealed that the first car should begin testing in August and that deliveries of customer cars could start as early as the end of this year.

He believes that the GT3-R, which will sell for $459,000 (£297,000), will prove popular with customers.

"We are about in the middle compared with other GT3s in terms of the purchase price, but we hope to sell cars on durability and low operating costs," he said.

"The engine is so strong and the [Xtrac] gearbox, so simple."

The GT3-R is second Viper to compete in GT3: the Competition Coupe was among the first batch of cars homologated for the category in 2006.