3-Rotor Turbo & NOS, 4-Rotor NA: Drag RX-7s Completed 2 Methods

Ultimately month’s Possibility x G-Works Tremendous Drag Pageant, two FC3S Mazda RX-7s caught my eye within the Central Circuit pits. Whereas the pair share some similarities – together with the truth that they had been each down from Hokkaido – they’re fairly totally different machines underneath their ultra-clean, white bodywork.

At a fast look from a front-end view, the primary automobile appeared loads like every other tuner-style FC3S we’d characteristic on Speedhunters. However as I acquired nearer to the SWATT/Zeroyon Manufacturing facility RX-7, the main points you solely discover in a purpose-built drag automobile started to current themselves.

Weld Racing wheels and Hoosier tyres – 29×11-inch slicks out again – test. Flat rear wing and parachute, test. Polycarbonate home windows throughout, test. 5-inch tachometer with shift gentle, test.

In comparison with many of the different automobiles competing on the Tremendous Drag Pageant, the Mazda appeared fairly inventory, however seeing the large side-exit exhaust sprouting from the correct entrance fender, I knew there was going to be one thing positively not inventory underneath the hood.

The RX-7’s proprietor and driver, Akira Kato, was eager to point out me what his FC RX-7 was packing, and it’s some critical rotary firepower. We’ll begin with the Garrett GT4508R turbocharger (that includes an 80mm compressor inlet), with fist measurement for comparability. Given the dimensions of the turbo, I was shocked to study that it’s not even the largest Garrett accessible; as much as 106mm variations can be found proper off the shelf.

The engine itself is a 3-rotor 20B from a JC Eunos Cosmo, however Kato-san has thrown loads at it, together with a complete of increase and a shot of nitrous oxide to get issues shifting. In response to the staff, the engine has a 9,200rpm redline and makes 950ps, which is greater than four-and-a-half occasions what the RX-7 left the Mazda manufacturing facility with. Yikes. 

As a principally inventory chassis automobile operating a Jerico transmission and R33 Nissan Skyline GT-R rear finish, the RX-7 isn’t any light-weight, however Kato-san has made good progress with the automobile and is banging on the 8-second door having run a finest move of 9.052 at 233km/h earlier within the 12 months. That point is fast sufficient to assert the quickest rotary spot within the Japan Drag Championship’s ‘RWD Over 2.5L & 3-Rotor Engine’ class (fourth outright).

I can’t discover any movies of the SWATT automobile operating on the day at Central Circuit, however you’ll be able to check out this video from a Motegi event earlier in the year to see and listen to it in motion.

The opposite white RX-7 storming down Central Circuit’s straight just a few weeks again is considered one of Japan’s most well-known home drag automobiles owned by a real zeroyon OG. It’s been in Makato Watanabe’s palms because it was model spanking new in 1986 and drag raced from day one, so I can’t determine which is the largest legend – Watanabe-san or the Mazda. By now they might have certainly fashioned some sort of symbiotic relationship, so that they each deserve equally excessive reward.

For the primary 10 years of their relationship, the RX-7 dominated the Hokkaido avenue drag scene with an aggressive side-port 13B turbo setup. Within the early 2000s, the automobile was transformed to a full tube body chassis, which Watanabe-san bought by mail order from RJ Race Vehicles within the USA. The components arrived, and, relieved that nothing was lacking, Watanabe-san constructed a chassis desk in his workshop and welded the body collectively. Some modifications had been required, however the RX-7 physique panels match.

Over time the automobile has been run with totally different engine setups and received many trophies, most earned on the now closed Sendai Hello-Land Raceway drag strip. Watanabe-san has additionally taken the automobile to Australia up to now, going heads-up with a number of the quickest sport compact drag automobiles on the planet at Willowbank Raceway in the course of the Jamboree occasion.

At present, the RX-7 is powered by a naturally aspirated 4-rotor engine pieced collectively by Yashiro Engineering. Tuned by means of a MoTeC M800 engine administration system, the customized ‘YR26B’ produces 600ps.

The 2022 Possibility x G-Works Tremendous Drag Pageant was a memorable occasion for Watanabe-san and his staff. Not solely did they set a brand new class document early on within the occasion with a 8.707-second move at 247.42km/h, however on the final run of the occasion they dropped their finest ET to eight.559-seconds. How good is that?! You’ll be able to watch footage of the document move here.

I’ve acquired yet another automobile from this occasion to share with you, and it’s an actual blast from Japanese drag racing’s previous. Look out for that quickly.

Toby Thyer
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