On a flight to John Wayne Airport in Orange County, Calif., you’ll unwittingly fly proper over a storied assortment of racecars. About 20 seconds earlier than contact down, the flight path crosses proper over Mazda NA R&D, which for nearly 25 years has been the house of the Mazda Motorsports Heritage Assortment. Till just lately, that flyby just a few hundred ft above was as shut as most followers ever acquired.
During the last decade or so, Mazda has pulled the covers off a pair of particular vehicles for some one-off observe appearances. The 767B GTP prototype from 1989 (above) within the iconic orange and inexperienced “Cost” livery and the IMSA GTO RX-7 from 1991 in company white and blue (under) have delighted followers, just for the vehicles to return to the R&D basement away from public sight.
Mazda RX-7 GTO. Picture by Harston Pitman
That every one modified when Mazda Motorsports revealed that these two vehicles and others would endure a entrance to again restoration with the intent of being put by their paces at historic race meets all year long. Their “popping out get together” was the HSR Traditional Daytona in November of 2023, together with HSR’s Sebring Traditional 12 Hour and the Mitty this yr.
“It’s essential we rejoice our heritage and convey these nice vehicles to our race followers, lovers and house owners’ group,” mentioned Mazda Motorsports senior supervisor Jonathan Applegate.
Subsequent cease is a return to the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion, Aug. 14-17. This time the pair will probably be joined for the primary time by a fully-refreshed RX-792P relationship again to the 1992 IMSA Camel GT Collection.
The restoration work has been entrusted to Flis Efficiency, the identical group that builds each Mazda MX-5 Cup racecar.
Flis Efficiency stayed true to the 1992 mechanics of the freshly-restored RX-792P.
“We’re making an attempt to maintain these vehicles as shut as attainable to the best way they raced,” says Troy Flis. “A lot of the components on the automotive are nonetheless unique, however the principle aim is to soundly preserve the vehicles out on observe. We’ve up to date the electronics, gasoline cells, brakes and people sorts of issues to maintain them operating as a result of followers need to see and listen to them in motion.”
Based on Flis, every restoration has been distinctive and required various things. In some instances that meant remanufacturing a component from scratch by copying the unique, as there isn’t precisely a retailer of components for any of those vehicles. Within the case of the RX-792P, that’s included gadgets as numerous as flywheels to headlight covers.
When the vehicles returned to their pure habitat of the race observe, Mazda turned to some acquainted faces to place them by their paces. Longtime Mazda manufacturing unit drivers Jonathan Bomarito and Tom Lengthy will probably be joined by present MX-5 Cup Champion Jared Thomas on the Rolex Reunion.
“Getting a chance to drive a bit of historical past within the RX-7 GTO is numerous enjoyable.The nostalgia is nice,” says Lengthy. “I’ve an appreciation for how briskly these vehicles had been and the way uncooked they had been with the grip and the ability and the sound. It’s nice to expertise that with all of the fanfare and pleasure that these racecars deliver.”
The Mazda 767B GTP prototype (above) and IMSA GTO-spec RX-7 and have been an enormous hit with followers. Picture by Harston Pitman
The thrill was evident in methods each anticipated and surprising. Flis recollects some followers standing for hours ready for the vehicles to fireside up. It acquired to the purpose that the crew would begin the vehicles now and again simply to fulfill the gang ready to listen to them operating.
“We brought about fairly a commotion each time we revved the engines,” echoes Applegate. “I heard from followers about the place they had been after they noticed these vehicles race initially, and the way the 767 or RX-7 is their favourite racecar. Lots of them introduced their youngsters and you might see their eyes gentle up after they noticed our vehicles. It’s an important feeling figuring out you’re not simply indulging nostalgia, but additionally inspiring a brand new technology.”
Go to Mazda Motorsports to study extra.
