Riley Building GT3 and GTE Vipers for 2014 USCR Season

The field for the 2014 United Sports Car Racing series in the United States has gotten a little bigger with the announcement that Riley Technologies is building a Viper GT3-RSRT Viper GT3-RUnited States of America, 2013 > present for the GT Daytona class that will be driven by sports car racing veteran Jeroen Bleekemolen and two-time SRT Viper Cup Series Champion Ben Keating.

The team says that they will make their competition debut at the 24 Hours of Daytona in January.

The Viper GT3-R is the first American-made GT3 racecar. It was engineered by SRTSRTUnited States of America, 2010 > present5 models
296 photos
1 video
and Riley Technologies and complies with the rules for FIA GT3 racing around the world.

The GT Daytona class in the USCR requires a professional and amateur driver for each car. For the 12 Hours of Sebring, Petit Le Mans, each team will require three drivers, and there will be four drivers for the 24 Hours of Daytona.

Keating is the Viper GT3-Rs first buyer, and he will manage the racing team. Riley Technologies will maintain the car, and it will be sponsored by ViperExchange.com and Client Command.

Viper Exchange is Keating's company, the largest Viper dealer in the US

© photo courtesy of: SRT

“I don’t have the time to invest to be a professional sports car driver. However, I am passionate about racing and I’ve been successful in a Viper. I feel I can measure up extremely well compared to other amateur drivers, especially driving a Viper.

“I’m passionate about the car. I’ve had lots of success in the car and as soon as I heard there was going to be a GT3 Viper race car developed, I was the first person in line to jump on it. I feel like I’ve got the best car, the best class structure and the best co-driver,” said Keating.

Keating is the owner of the highest volume Viper dealership in the US.

Bleekemolen has a distinguished sports car racing career. He has scored wins in the 12 Hours of Sebring, 24 Hours of Dubai, American Le Mans GTC Championship and LMP2-class win in the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

“I think the Viper is going to be one of the best cars in the GT Daytona Class. That’s one of the main reasons I’m pleased to join this team. The team is very strong and the Viper is one of the best cars out there,” said Bleekemolen.

The car will begin track testing in October and attend the first USCR test in November.

“The Viper GT3-R is a good progression from a customer-based Viper. The parts are now available worldwide. We’re talking to a lot of different customers here in the U.S. and worldwide about 2014,” said Bill Riley, Riley Technologies vice president.

Riley Technologies also builds the Viper GTS-RSRT Viper GTS-RUnited States of America, 2013 > present7 photos
that will race in the GT Le Mans class in the USCR.