Behold The Fury Of A Three-Rotor Mazda RX-8 Rally Car

This 20B-powered RX-8 rally car makes a superb noise that you won't forget in a hurry

10 Aug 2017

As far as we’re concerned, rear-wheel drive rally cars are the coolest rally cars. That’s why this Mazda RX-8 first caught our attention, before we even noticed what powers it. And what it’s packing under the bonnet is quite special: a three-rotor 20B rotary engine, pushing out somewhere in the region of 370bhp.

As you’d expect, it sounds utterly, mesmerisingly awesome, letting out the kind of shriek that’d make an N/A V12 blush. The car is driven in various Rally Sprint series events in New Zealand by a chap called Markus Van Klink, who clearly doesn’t hang about.

This is one of those times you’ll be wanting to find a nice pair of headphones or some speakers. Trust me.

Growing up on a diet of World Rally Championship highlights and lengthy Gran Turismo 2 sessions, a life in cars was as good as inevitable for Matt.

Comments

When the video went to crappy audio quality:

[watches 15 seconds of the video. Turns off phone. Sits down at desk with a piece of paper and a pen]
Dear WRC….

nutting intensifies

“As far as we’re concerned, rear-wheel drive rally cars ar the coolest rally cars”

😂😂😂

BMW M1
Ford Escort RS 1700T
FSO Polonez 2000 Rally
FSO Polonez 2000 Turbo
Lada VFTS
Lada Samara EVA
Lancia Rally 037
Mazda RX-7
Mercedes-Benz 190E Cosworth
Moskvitch-Aleko 2141-KR
Nissan 240RS
Opel Manta 400
Škoda 130 LR
and others
What were you saying?

“For me driving starts when I steer the car with the throttle pedal instead of the wheel.
Everything else is just doing work.” - Walter Röhrl :D

Ohhh yeah this car is legendary!

Who said ls swap was better?

Not it!

I did, because it is.

Also me lel
As much as rotary engines are cool, LS engines are much more reliable and cheaper to run, also parts for these engines can be found anywhere