Mazda made four-rotor race cars in the late 1980s and early 1990s for IMSA, Le Mans, and the Japanese Sports Prototype Championship. Only three RX-792P IMSA racers were ever made, but they were one of the most dangerous race cars that Mazda ever produced. In a funny twist, the third to be made is now for sale, and the next owner will have to pay $1.5 million for it. Jim Downing owns the 31-year-old IMSA Mazda RX-720P four-rotor racer with chassis number RX792P003, which he has been fixing, keeping, and restoring over the last few years. It has been taken care of, and a few parts have been changed, but the paint is still the original, so it looks brand new. But its power plant is the real star of the show. It has a manual gearbox and a 2.6-liter engine with four rotors, making 670 horsepower and 442 lb-ft of torque at 9,000 rpm. All of this fits into a body that weighs 1,850 pounds. When the four-rotor Mazda engine hits its top speed, it emits an amazing, ear-splitting scream. I can see why rotary engines aren’t used anymore, but I wish some makers would still use them in racing because they sound so different. Even though Downing and his team drove the car at Road Atlanta, and it is a fully working race car, it has never been used in a race. I hope that whoever buys this car takes it to racing. I hope it’s not just another pricey thing to add to a collection. A race car with such a unique and cool engine must be used to race, and it’s deep howl must be fun to watch.
