Toby, the Viper, and in particular the GTS version, is a street legal racing car. There are many differences between the average street car and the Viper.
For example, the extremely high torque.
Now the guys that have incurred a "swap ends event" (spun the car) have demonstrated the perfect reason for signing up for a driving school. They either do not understand the effect of high torque when they stomp on the gas, or they do understand it and exceed the limit of the car anyway for some obscure reason - (generally showing off, which we are all very tempted to do)
At a driving school one learns very quickly about handling horsepower and torque - instructors talk in terms of "rolling on" the gas pedal and "rolling off" the gas pedal.
Stomp on the gas with a little steering input and the torque is sufficient to break the rear tires loose and around you go.
Similarly, if you're in a high speed turn with your foot in the gas and you suddenly lift you will feel the rear of the car get "loose" - thats the back of the car trying to become the front of the car.
So rolling on and rolling of the gas is very important.
Stomping on the gas, or lifting of the gas quickly de-stabilizes the car.
The guys that are the quickest at the track are those that have taught themselves to be smooth. One of the fastest guys I know of in a Viper, at the track, (I've ridden in the car with him), doesn't feel like he is going real quick because the car is soooooo smooth and well behaved, yet he holds the lap record in a Viper.
So the bottom line to answer you question is:
1. Street Legal Racing Car
2. Drivers exceeding the limits of their ability in this car and really need to get into a driving school.
Just so you understand, at track events you would be very surprised to see the most experienced guys sitting in the classroom listening to instructors. There is simply a ton to learn about going quick in any brand of car. In this regard the Viper is not special - try to go quick in this car and you need to know how. "How" doesn't come natural for too many of us. No matter how good any one of us gets, there is always the next thing to learn. Ask the fasted guy at the track why he is there - to have fun and to learn.
Lastly - your concern about the Viper "not being controllable"
My experience of the car, when driven appropriately (now that word covers a lot of ground), is very predictable and gives the driver a lot of feedback.
Now the exception to that, in my experience, is "cold tires" - try to go quick on cold tires and the torque will bite you - the car will be sideways before you can blink. Warm the tires up and the car simply sticks, in a straight line or in turns.
Hope this helps.
