Ex-SRT CEO Ralph Gilles Drives the Hell Out of His Viper ACR at VIR, Shares Car with Wife

One brilliant answer comes from the man himself, with Gilles having recently published one of his track day videos. And yes, it all has to do with his vicious Dodge Viper ACR.

With the help of the telemetry data-infused footage, Gilles takes us to the Virginia International Raceway for the circuit’s last track day for this year.

This isn’t your average take-it-slow-and-rely-on-editing promotional video. Oh no. The former SRT helm man manhandles the track-savvy Viper, with the 2013 ACR responding in a manner that mixes precision with brutality.

No expense is spared in the quest to make the most out of the ex-generation ACR. And while the traffic on the track meant lap times were out of the question, the trills were on the house. Need we add the fact that Gilles knows VIR like the back of his hand?

“Too much traffic to get any representative lap times but this machine is clearly professional grade. It is so capable that I am having to unlearn old habits and re-imagine what I believe is possible. This level of down force is really a sort of 4th dimension,” Gilles explains.

Sure, that sounds a bit like praising one’s own product (with the 2016 ACR having recently debuted), but Gilles adds the car is so balanced and usable he shares it with his wife, Doris.

“At the same time car is so balanced, easy to drive and predictable that my (still a student) wife and I shared it all day!” the designer says.

Speaking of Gilles’ position, we’ll remind you that while he handed over the SRT reigns to Tim Kuniskis, he was promoted to Head of Design for Fiat Chrysler. It’s good to know he can also draw racing lines.