For three consecutive years, from 1998 through 2000, Dodge Vipers took both first and second place in the GTS class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. It’s fitting, then, that the new SRT Viper GTS-R will compete in this year’s running of the famed endurance race.

SRT Motorsports has been invited to participate by the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO), the organizing body behind the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Two factory-backed Viper GTS-Rs will run in the LM GTE Pro Class, marking the Viper’s return to international competition.

SRT Motorsports drivers expected to participate include Marc Goossens, Tommy Kendall, Kuno Wittmer, Dominik Farnbacher and Jonathan Bomarito. Additional drivers will be named closer to the event.

“The new SRT Viper GTS-R represents a rebirth for us in road racing...” said SRT’s director of marketing, operations and motorsports, Beth Paretta. “The invitation to return to the 24 Hours of Le Mans gives SRT Motorsports and the SRT Viper GTS-R the opportunity to compete... with the best sports car teams from around the world.”

Her sentiment was echoed by SRT head Ralph Giles, who stated, “Historically the Viper GTS-R has enjoyed great success at Le Mans, so we couldn’t be more excited and proud to accept the challenge to return to France and continue composing the next chapter in the history of Viper racing at such an historic venue.”

You won’t have to wait until June to see the new Viper GTS-R in competition, as SRT Motorsports will run the full American Le Mans Series (ALMS) schedule in 2013. The ALMS season opens on March 16 with the Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring, in Sebring, Florida.