So it went like this: Motor Trend conducted a track test between the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 and the SRT Viper GTS at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca a few months ago. With pro racer Randy Pobst behind at the wheel, the ZR1 took top honors and set a new lap record for production cars at the famed Californian racetrack. That wasn't good news for SRT, and brand chief Ralph Gilles would have none of it. Now Chrysler's performance division has responded with the Viper TA.

Shorthand for Time Attack, the hardcore Viper gears up for battle with such track-focused items such as retuned two-mode Bilstein Damptronic dampers, new springs and anti-roll bars, and a carbon fiber engine-bay brace that's 50 percent stronger and stiffer than the standard aluminum unit. The Viper's aerodynamics have also been enhanced with carbon spoilers front and rear, while a new set of Pirelli PZero Corsa tires have been fitted. The 8.4-liter V10, however, remains unchanged with 640 horsepower and 600 lb-ft of torque. The Crusher Orange paintjob continues inside in the form of accent stitching for the black seats.

Though these track specials often strip some weight, these modifications actually add a bit, the Viper TA weighing in at 3,348 lbs instead of 3,297 stock. The big question will be whether it can successfully take on the ZR1. We'll soon find out sometime after the 2014 SRT Viper TA makes its official debut at the New York Auto Show next week.