WEC: Dodge considering GTE Viper lease program

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2015 will mark the third full season of competition for the Riley Technologies-built Dodge Vipers in GTE-Pro specification, and according to the manufacturer's motorsport director, the rumbling V10 coupes could be made available to interested World Endurance Championship customers in Europe.

"I've had some positive meetings this past weekend [in Le Mans] about that, and it's something we're going to look into and investigate" said Beth Paretta, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles' director of motorsports marketing and operations.

The 8-liter Vipers contest the full TUDOR United SportsCar Challenge championship in the GT Le Mans category which uses the ACO's GTE-Pro rules. Faced with factory opposition from BMW, Corvette Racing Ferrari and Porsche, the Riley-led Viper outfit is pitted against more variety and stiffer competition than anything the WEC delivers in its GTE Pro class.

GTE-Pro chassis options are limited for WEC teams, with Porsche restricting access to its new 911 RSR to the factory, leaving Aston Martin and Ferrari to account for the majority of the grid with works- or works-affiliated customer programs. Similar options are found in GTE-Am, although Porsche does make its products and support available to privateers.

Provided discussions keep heading in the right direction, the Dodge Viper could be an attractive option to what's currently available in the WEC.

"We're talking more about leasing our cars than selling them outright," Paretta added. "The WEC is a global series and we're currently evaluating our strategies going forward."

Budgeting for a return to Le Mans is also of interest to the brand, although Paretta would not make any predictions on whether the factory will race at La Sarthe in 2015.

"We'd like to, but we need a few things to fall in place," she noted. "It's a race we all have the utmost respect for, and we would like to compete there again."

Despite missing last weekend's race, Paretta was in France to partake in the latest round of manufacturer meetings. The relationship between the ACO/FIA for the Viper and its factory arm, according to Paretta, remains incredibly strong.

"The relationship we have with the ACO, the FIA and IMSA is an ongoing thing--an ongoing dialogue, and they completely understood our need to sit out this year's [Le Mans] race," she said. "Everything is very positive with where we're all going."