DODGE ANNOUNCES NEW SPEED TOURING CAR PROGRAM FOR SRT4

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (Jan. 20, 2005) -- Dodge has opened a new chapter in its racing history with the announcement of a new competition venue for the Dodge SRT4, the 230-horsepower turbocharged sensation from Chrysler Group’s Street and Racing Technology (SRT).

Beginning in March at the Sebring (Fla.) Raceway, the Dodge SRT4 will race in the SPEED World Challenge Touring Car class under newly introduced rules permitting forced-induction cars. Dodge is well-known in SPEED World Challenge racing, with Dodge Viper Competition Coupe drivers winning both the overall championship and rookie of the year honors in the 2004 SPEED World Challenge GT series.

In SPEED World Challenge Touring Car competition, Dodge plans to support privateer race teams with technical support and two major programs beginning in the 2005 season.

The first is a sealed crate engine program. The engine will be sold complete with turbo and engine management system and will be equipped with anti-tamper seals to ensure that the engine performance cannot be modified throughout the season. This allows competitors to reduce their racing costs by eliminating costly development programs, while at the same time, providing the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) with a stable horsepower level to evaluate potential adjustments during the 2005 race season. Pricing is estimated at $9,000 for a complete, race engine.

“A sealed engine program helps reduce the cost of racing for all the privateer teams planning to race the Dodge SRT4,” said John Fernandez, Director of Dodge Motorsports Operations. “A large amount of race budgets are typically dedicated to increasing engine output or improving engine life. Now teams can take that precious time and money and focus on other areas of the car that can benefit from improvement.”

The second program is the availability of a complete, bare body shell for the SRT4. Typically, SPEED World Challenge race teams are required to strip down a street car to bare metal to modify the car for racing and install all of the safety systems required for track use. Now, teams campaigning an SRT4 can skip this step and begin building their race car. This also reduces the time and money needed to prepare a new race car. The cost of the body shell is approximately $2,500USD.

Both the sealed engine and body shell will be available through Viper Race HQ, with an anticipated delivery date in late January 2005. Teams planning to race the Dodge SRT4 in SPEED World Challenge should contact Viper Race HQ @ (888)-960-3333 and provide contact information and race credentials, and complete the necessary application process.

“With this program and SCCA’s assistance to ensure the car is classed fairly, we fully expect the SRT4 to set the new benchmark on the race track for performance, reliability and value,” said Fernandez. “At SRT, we use the phrase ‘Race Inspired, Street Legal.’ I hope the competition is prepared, because they’re about to see the Dodge SRT4 demonstrate the potent performance that we engineer into every one of our SRT vehicles.”

Dodge also plans to announce its 2005 contingency program for SPEED World Challenge. Details are expected in the coming weeks.