Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR Sets 1:33.915 Production Car Lap Record at Laguna Seca
SRT engineer Chris Winkler piloted a 2010 Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR to a new 1:33.915 lap record for production cars at Laguna Seca, beating the previous mark by over a second.
A 2010 Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR, driven by SRT vehicle dynamics engineer Chris Winkler, set a new production car lap record of 1:33.915 at California’s Laguna Seca circuit in November 2009. The time improved on the previous best for a street-legal car at the track, which had been held by a 2008 Viper ACR at 1:35.117, set by professional racer Randy Pobst.
Winkler’s lap was completed in a black and red Viper SRT10 ACR, a model already known for its track focus. The run not only reclaimed the record for Dodge, but also demonstrated the impact of technical updates introduced for the 2010 model year. These included a shorter fifth gear ratio for improved acceleration, a new short-throw shifter, and revised rear wing and end plates to increase top speed and rear downforce.
Technical changes for 2010
The 2010 Viper SRT10 ACR’s shorter fifth gear ratio (0.80, down from 0.74) was developed following lessons from the Nürburgring, where engineers found that a revised ratio would have allowed higher speeds on long straights. Combined with aerodynamic tweaks, these changes raised the ACR’s top speed by 4 mph to 184 mph. The new short-throw shifter aimed to improve driver confidence and shift speed, while the rear wing’s new profile and end plates further optimised stability at high speed.
Under the bonnet, the familiar 8.4-litre V10 remained, producing 600 horsepower and 560 lb-ft of torque. Dodge claimed 0-60 mph in under 4 seconds, a quarter mile in the mid-11 second range, and 0-100-0 mph in 11 seconds flat. The ACR’s focus was on circuit capability, with the Laguna Seca result reinforcing its position among the most track-oriented production cars of its era.
Laguna Seca record in context
The 1:33.915 lap time not only surpassed the 2008 Viper’s record but also eclipsed a 1:35.075 lap set by a one-off exotic prototype in August 2009. The result placed the Viper SRT10 ACR at the top of Laguna Seca’s production car leaderboard at the time, ahead of rivals such as the Chevrolet Corvette and Porsche 911 GT3 RS, and underlined Dodge’s commitment to track performance.
- 2010 Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR: 1:33.915 (Chris Winkler, SRT engineer)
- 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR: 1:35.117 (Randy Pobst, professional driver)
- One-off exotic prototype: 1:35.075 (August 2009)
For more on the Viper’s later evolution and its rivalry with the Corvette, see Dodge Viper ACR Taunts Corvette in Star Wars-Themed Ad.
