---

Japanese Race Team First To Purchase Viper GTS-R

21 August 1997

Japanese Race Team First To Purchase Viper GTS-R

    AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Aug. 21 -- There will be one more Viper
GTS-R racing on circuits around the world in 1998.  Taisan International,
Inc., a Tokyo-based company, is the first customer to purchase a new GTS-R,
the Viper specifically tuned for racing.
    "From its conception, the Viper GTS-R racing program was intended to be a
customer program," said Lou Patane, Executive Director of Chrysler
Corporation's Motorsports Operations.  "This sale has been a long
time coming but that's to be expected.  You have to prove yourself on the
circuit before race teams will actually foot the bill for your product.  This
purchase by Taisan validates our progress.  Our factory-development team,
ORECA, has proven the Viper GTS-R is clearly the dominant production-based car
in GT2 racing.  We're excited that race fans in Japan will now have the
opportunity to see Viper GTS-R in action."
    "As Chrysler's first official customer team, we are proud to be racing the
Viper GTS-R," said Ricky Chiba, Owner of Team Taisan.  "Within a very short
period of time, Chrysler has accomplished a lot with this vehicle.  In Japan,
with our team driver Hideshi Matsuda, we hope to mirror the success that Viper
Team ORECA has enjoyed in the FIA GT series."
    Since entering the race arena in 1996, Viper GTS-R quickly made its
presence known with a 10th place finish at Le Mans along with several other
top 10 finishes including Brands Hatch (England) and Nogaro (France).  This
year, France-based Viper Team ORECA is leading the manufacturer's point
standings in the FIA GT Championship as a result of three wins, nine top-three
finishes, and five poles.  Also participating in the FIA GT series is England-
based Chamberlain Engineering which purchased Viper Team ORECA's factory-based
1996 cars.
    "Taisan is now another chapter in the successful story of Viper GTS-R,"
said Patane.  "We are pleased with their decision to race with our vehicle and
wish them the best of luck in the Japanese series."
    Formed in 1984, Team Taisan captured the Japanese Sports Car Championship
for three consecutive years (1985-1987), and the Japan Touring Car (Class 2)
Championship in 1989.  Recently, Taisan earned two championships in the
Japanese Grand Touring Championship (JGTC) series in 1995 and 1996.  The team
expects to race the Viper GTS-R in the JGTC series which begins in October.
    Viper Team ORECA continues its quest for the GT2 championship with
upcoming races in the United Kingdom and Italy, followed by two
back-to-back races in the United States.

SOURCE  Chrysler Corporation