SRT Viper GTS-R Making Race Debut at Mid-Ohio ALMS Round (with Videos)

SRTAmoritz GTBrazil, 2005 > present has just announced that the Viper GTS-RSRT Viper GTS-RUnited States of America, 2013 > present7 photos
will get its competitive racing debut at the sixth round of the American Le Mans Series at Mid-Ohio on August 4.

“The decision to make our debut at Mid-Ohio is a result of the progress made with our testing program. The car has shown steady performance. Each test has met and more often exceeded our expectations, so we’ll see how things go at Mid-Ohio and then make a decision about the rest of the 2012 season," said Gary Johnson, Road Racing Manager at SRT Motorsports.

The GTS-Rs have been prepared by Riley Technologies. They will be competing against the Corvette C6.RChevrolet Corvette C6.RUnited States of America, 2012 > present3 photos
, Aston Martin VantageAston Martin Vantage GTEUnited Kingdom, 2012 > present4 photos
1 video
, BMW M3 GTBMW M3 GTRGermany, 2009 > present4 photos
, Ferrari F458 ItaliaFerrari 458 Italia GTCItaly, 2011 > present5 photos
1 video
, Lotus EvoraLotus Evora GTEUnited Kingdom, 2011 > present8 photos
1 video
and Porsche 911 GT3 RSRPorsche 911 GT3 RSRGermany, 2012 > present6 photos
. The rules stipulate that the car cannot weigh less than 2,745lbs with between 450hp and 500hp.

SRT will campaign two GTS-Rs in the GT class of the race. They will be driven by Dominik Farnbacher, Marc Goossens and Kuno Wittmer. IndyCar driver Ryan Hunter-Reay will race occasionally for the team in longer races. He will not race for the team at Mid-Ohio because the event is only two hours and 45 minutes long. 

Assuming the car does well, it will likely compete in the last four rounds of the ALMS championship after Mid-Ohio. 

Mid-Ohio is located in Lexington, Ohio, about an hour north of Columbus, Ohio. It is a 2.4-mile long road course, but ALMS runs on a modified 2.258-mile version. It consists of 13 corners and several elevation changes. On the same weekend there will be a 200-mile, 85-lap IndyCar race. 

SRT released two videos of the Viper GTS-R testing at Mid-Ohio below.