In 2001, Chrysler, Oreca and Reynard stepped up to the LMP1 class. The numerous privateers continued to race the Viper GTS-R for many years to come with the final examples produced as late as 2005. By that time, Oreca had produced a staggering 52 Viper GTS-Rs.

With class and outright victories in all the major races and championships, the race-bred Viper remains one of the most successful GT racers of the modern era.

To celebrate the launch of the 2013 Viper and its return to racing, here is a close look at five Viper Team Oreca race cars:

GTS-R chassic C7 was one of the most-successful Vipers ever put on the track. (Photo: Wouter Melissen)

• One of the most successful Viper GTS-Rs produced, chassis C7 was raced by Viper Team Oreca for most of the 1997 and 1998 season. It made the type's victorious debut during the first FIA GT race of 1997 at the Hockenheimring. Its final race was the 1998 24 Hours of Le Mans where Justin Bell, Luca Drudi and David Donohue drove to 11th overall and victory in the GT2 class. Retained by Chrysler, it is seen here during the 2004 Eyes on Design concours d'elegance, still sporting the Le Mans winning colors.

Chassis 21 still wears its battle damage on display at the Walter P. Chrysler Museum. (Photo: Wouter Melissen)

• Built ahead of the 1999 season, chassis C21 was one of the Viper Team Oreca cars for the 1999 season. It was briefly raced in Europe including at Silverstone and Le Mans before it was shipped to the United States to compete in the inaugural American Le Mans Series. Repainted red with silver stripes, it scored five consecutive class victories, including wins at Laguna Seca and in the Petit Le Mans. It was subsequently entered in the 2000 Daytona 24 Hours for Olivier Beretta, Karl Wendlinger and Dominique Dupuy. Starting from 21st on the grid, they scored a spectacular outright victory. Still wearing its Daytona battle damage, chassis C21 is seen here in the Walter P. Chrysler Museum.

Chassis 23 won second in class at the 1999 24 Hours of Le Mans. (Photo: Wouter Melissen)

• Chassis C23 was part of the Viper Team Oreca squad during the 1999 season. Marc Duez, Tommy Archer and Justin Bell placed it 12th outright and second in class behind a sister car in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. This Viper GTS-R was subsequently campaigned by Karl Wendlinger and Olivier Beretta in the FIA GT Championship. They drove it to four wins on their way to securing the championship. At the end of the year, it was sold off and various privateer teams campaigned chassis C23 until the end of 2005. It has since been restored to its original livery and was demonstrated by model-expert Florent Moulin during the 2008 Goodwood Festival of Speed.

GTS-R chassis 27 remains in remarkably preserved condition due to its brief racing career. (Photo: Wouter Melissen)

• Completed in 2000, this Viper GTS-R was one of the Viper Team Oreca factory cars campaigned during that season. It was raced only a handful of times, including appearances in all major North American Endurance races. Chassis C27's best result was a fifth in the Daytona 24 Hours, which was won by one of the team's other Vipers. In 2001 it was used by a specialist company to test racing shock absorbers. Due to its relatively brief racing career, it has survived in a remarkably preserved condition. Dealer and model expert Florent Moulin acquired the car in 2008 and following a cosmetic restoration and a major service, he won the 2009 GT90s historic race at Dijon. Chassis C27 is seen here during the 2010 Goodwood Festival of Speed.

Chassis 31 was driven to Vioer's third and final Le Mans class win. (Photo: Wouter Melissen)

• One of the final team cars produced, chassis C31 was raced by Viper Team Oreca throughout the 2000 season. In the hands of Karl Wendlinger, Olivier Beretta and Dominique Dupuy, it was driven to the Viper's third and final Le Mans class win. Wendlinger and Beretta also used this Viper to clinch the 2000 GTS class championship in the American Le Mans Series. Sold to a privateer team, it was campaigned for another two seasons. Chassis C31 has since been fully restored to its American Le Mans Series winning colours. It is seen here during The Quail, a Motorsports Gathering in 2008.

For a gallery of photos, see Viper GTS-R.

Read more stories like this at: The Ultimate Car Page.