A crowdfunding-powered privateer effort has done what Dodge never officially attempted to do: Set a Nurburgring lap time in the soon-to-be-discontinued fifth-generation Viper. With professional racer Dominik Farnbacher at the wheel, a brand-new, bone-stock Viper ACR just set a 7:03.45 lap time at the famed German track. This was the first traffic-free timed lap on a dry track for the Viper.

The Viper 'Ring Record Run powered by Kumho and co-sponsored by Prefix brought two brand-new, bone-stock 2017 Viper ACRs in the commemorative GTS-R spec (just a livery, no mechanical changes) to the famed German racetrack. Funded largely by private donations from individual Viper enthusiasts, and utilizing cars straight off the showroom floor of Texas dealership Viper Exchange, the effort marks the first Nurburgring lap record attempt in the current fifth-generation model.

Farnbacher, the driver who set today's lap time, was the man at the wheel for the Viper's last Nurburgring record attempt in 2011. Back then, Farnbacher drove a factory-backed fourth-generation Viper ACR to a 7:12.13 lap time.



Since the introduction of the current-generation Viper, Dodge has refused to return to the 'Ring to pursue a new lap time, opting instead to claim production-car lap records at 13 road courses in the United States. But with production of the American sports car set to end later this year, a private group of die-hard Viper enthusiasts raised money through crowdfunding, sponsorship, and private donations to bring the car to Germany for one last crack at the 'Ring.

It wasn't easy: the privateers originally scheduled one hour of closed-track lap time on Monday, July 24th, to attempt to set a lap time. But heavy rains all day scuttled those plans, leaving the team only able to practice during open lapping sessions with significant traffic, often under wet, rainy conditions. When a brief window of track time became available this afternoon, the team scrambled into action.

Road & Track has been traveling with the privateer Viper team in Germany all week. The lap time was set on brand-new, stock, street-legal Kumho Ecsta V720 tires (295/25 front, 355/30 rear on factory 19-inch wheels) supplied by Kumho, a sponsor of the attempt. And this is only the first lap attempt: the team plans to go for another flying lap later this week.

Update: We've clarified that these are actually bone stock GTS-R Commemorative Edition Viper ACRs running for the record.



Road & Track was invited to witness the Viper's 'Ring attempt by the organizers of the run. R&T paid for all travel and lodging related to the event. - Ed.



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