Chrysler Discontinues Factory Backed Road Racing Efforts

IMSA - Chrysler discontinues factory-backed road racing efforts

Damn, two days after winning a championship, the plug gets pulled.

 

Too bad.

Grid size getting smaller and smaller...

CW

 

it's only gonna get uglier between now and Daytona.

and honestly, if Corvette or Porsche pulled out of GTLM, you'd see them all pull out. that class is the most vulnerable in a lot of ways.

 

refocus. a lot of new products coming in '16. not much in 15.

 

As someone who still periodically entertains some vague thoughts about getting back into the IMSA game as a privateer, I sincerely hope there will still be a class to compete in!

CW

 

Have you considered Pirelli World Challenge?

One of my life goals is to run (if I drove it'd be a disaster) a privateer sports car team and after witnessing PWC and understanding it more, I am leaning towards that.

 

GTLM will have an "AM" subclass next year (much like PWC GTA this year).

might be some value pricing on GTD Porsches soon too....

 

One of my life goals too - but too little money and too little driving talent dictate that it's probably nothing more than a pipe dream now.

I'd be happy with a LeMons ride...

 

I do think PWC is starting to look more interesting (and it's getting better TV coverage). That may ultimately be the more likely route to returning, but IMSA GT class cars are certainly coming up for sale for any number of reasons at attractive prices. The economics of a one-car team don't make much sense to me, and we've been offered a two-car (with spares) package, but I think we're going to sit tight for the moment and see how this all plays out. We'd likely cherry-pick the schedule to keep costs down and see what we might be able to do in terms of selling seats in the second car. Sponsorship dollars are difficult to find, and paying drivers are also getting scarcer.

CW

 

would you be driving or...?

 

If you have any 'or'... opportunities available send me a note!

 

I wish NASCAR would die a quick death instead of road racing series. I'm just not sure what people see in oval tracks--with any car really.

 

I've been contemplating the same thing. I've wanted to race Tudor but economics aren't there and from what i read its about 50k for a one car one race drive minus any accidents. World challenge has a simpler spec and seems to be cheaper. If the current trend in my industry stays the course I may be able to pursue this more in the next 3-5 years. I would also cherry pick to stay on the east coast and then road America just because its my favorite track.

http://www.world-challenge.com/images/forms/2014-entry-gt.pdf

Roughly 5 grand a race plus the car and transportation/crew unless you drive your own tractor and know some people.

 

I cannot help but wonder if Chrysler has something in the pipeline or will be offering sponsorship to other Viper race efforts such as the Viper Exchange team? VE has been impressive and could carry the Viper torch for them.

 

Sergio Marchionne [ax man, bean counter] who is Fiat CEO, which owns Chrysler, is sick of the division known as SRT. They cannot give away the new Vipers especially now that the MUCH better new Corvette has arrived and he is tired of them losing money. The Viper will be gone within a year as well I think

 

My mistake as I had forgotten about the new bean counter at the helm. In all honesty the Viper was never a profitable sales model for Chrysler for various reasons of which the mother ship holds some blame.

 

Yes I agree it was never a profit maker but it certainly was an attractive flagship to get people into the dealership and excited. The problem is it has gotten to expensive for the demographic it appeals to.
I bought a new Ram 3500 in 2013 to tow my race car trailer and they had a new Viper sitting there with a sticker price of 135k. I almost fainted!

 

The Viper needs to be 65 for a base

 

I was a club Viper member and was at the meeting the day the new boss agreed to go ahead with a new Viper. so it was really his decision to build the 2014 car. I am not so sure he will kill this project. Giles is a sharp guy. he and the boss get along very well. they may pull some surprise yet on this car. the membership/owner base is very strong and very different. a really nice group.

 

At one point earlier in the year they were supposedly sitting on 800 Vipers and had to halt production.
Lowering the price by $15K (with some sort of similar offer on the 2015?) got them moving in September with supposedly over 100 sold.
As for Ralph I am told he was in tears when he learned of the decision.

 

I'm a huge fan of the Vipers and sucks to see them go.

Here's some pics I took of them at Mid Ohio in '12 when they debuted. Fresh off the hauler and first laps of the weekend.
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That "bean counter" has given the enthusiasts at Mopar a free reign. Otherwise we wouldn't have such incredible efforts as the Hellcat twins, a very nice 200, record setting Jeeps and generally great success. As to the Viper only being "worth 65"-nonsense. Its a very good sportscar, with a greatly improved interior and staggering performance. Sadly, the snob contingent wouldn't buy it at any price as they'd rather own less capable sportscars with a cache branding.

 

I think Vipers are bad ass looking and the current model has a lot of Ferrari influence.
It just amazes when car manufacturers claim they cant sell any. They are all the same, Ford, Chrysler, GM. The cry they cant sell the cars but go to a dealer and try to buy one and you get a song and a dance how you need to get on a waiting list, pay over MSRP and wait forever. Viper, New ZO6, Camaro ZL1, Viper, Shelby Mustang, whatever.

 

I don't pretend to know everything about the Viper team but is does seem unusual
to come into a series like this, win the championship in only the second season against
some very tough competition only to pull the plug two days later.

Why Dodge killed the SRT Viper racing program | News | Motorsport.com

BHW

 

hard bottom line decisions. easy to make when in business. time to sell Italian cars