anyone know the specs on the M2 racecar?
 

I'm talking about the black one with the GTC front end, and knightsports wing. It's the raced out one on their webpage. I saw it once at a HIN show in san mateo, and it was done up really really nicely. Does anyone know what class it runs in and what races it is set up for? Also what kind of turbo, and everything else it uses?

They posted a link on here in the last couple months showing it for sale. Looks like they built it then couldn't afford to race it, cause I think it was built for the World Challenge GT Cup. I haven't seen it run in any of the events on Speed Channel (NASCAR TV)

does anyone have that link? I would like to see it

Here it is. M2 Race Car for Sale No specs at all though.

You've got to scan the Canadian forum more often. We spend waay too much time on the internet!:D

they campaigned the car until the rules made the RX7 less than competitive, money for racing is always a problem. unfortunately mazda has not produced a GT type car in nearly ten years for the US. in the mid nineties the RX7 was a competitive race car in world challenge but without an unrestricted turbo it just does not do well against the z06's, GT3 cup Porsche's and supercharged NSX's, which all have factory support and developement.

The rules specify the Hitachi twins for the Rx-7. But the Supra can run a T04S. The NSX can run a supercharger. Obviously, this leaves the Rx-7 in an uncompetitive position.

I believe that it would be possible to get a more competitive configuration homologated, but I don't know how to go about doing it. I have tried contacting the person listed on scca's website, but received no response.

that's a beautiful car. Anyone know why they are selling it and why they can't afford to race it anymore?

Heck with the M2 car for $100K, you can buy mine which is almost as nice for $27K...
https://www.rx7club.com/forum/showth...hreadid=129839

Shaker PM me if you want the person to contact. I'm an official with World Challenge.

Brad, your car sounds as if it's really badass. Why don't you post some pics?

I'll post a few pics in a row...

here's #2

Here is an engine compartment shot ...

:bigthumb:

nice!

I have been up close and personal with the M2 race car and it is indeed fabulous. The attention to detail that went into this car is simply incredible.
A few corrections to the speculation, It is NOT the old car they built for the speedvision challenge. It does have a single turbo, It does NOT have the stock Transmission. The wing is NOT a Knightsports, It is a one-off built by M2, actually i think it is a two-off. It has gobs of carbon fibre and cool electronics. This car must be seen to be believed. This car is a showcase to the talents of M2. Now, where do i get that low interest loan?
1R1

With all due respect, the M2 is not THAT high tech. it doesn't even use centerlock hubs. The car that Roger Mandeville built for Cam Worth is much better. the $100K price on the M2 car is a 'little' ambitious.

Yes, perhaps 100K is a little salty. It is still a well prepared car that impressed the snot out of me. My area of expertise isnt race cars but aircraft, so i tend to compare the detail to jet aircraft and again,the attention to detail is remarkable.
1R1

I don't think the price is "too" high since the GT3 RS cars cost upwards or 135k (that's the lowest that I've seen anyway). I thought I saw an RX7 in SpeedGT races about 2 weeks ago. I can't remember where they were though. I know the session after it was at Road Atlanta, so whatever was before then there was an RX7 in the race. I believe it finished in 12th place. I didn't get to see it, I missed the major portion of the race but when I saw the last few laps (where's the damn replay already!!!) and the final standings the car was there.

FOUND IT! The car that participates in the SpeedVision GT series is the "Petit Racing/Mazda/Forgeline/Mazda RX-7" the last race that it was in was the Laguna Seca Round (ha...the Mazda circuit). It finished in 12th place and started in 17th place. I'm not sure how long they've been going at it, but that's the ONLY race that I remember them being in and I watch them ALL. They might be testing the car and need some realworld testing, so no telling when or IF they're coming back next year (the final round is already over).

KioyKix,

The car you are referring to is the Cam Worth car I referenced. Cam owns Pettit Racing and has been driving for years. The rules strangle the car as it must run reworked stock twins. In other words, the package is not competitive.

Regrading the cost of GT3R Porsches: another instructor I know just bought one from Kevin Buckler's Race Group. It finished 6th at LeMans last year. the car is beautiful ad is WAY advanced over the M2 car. he paid $125K.

Considering the car is fully built and has all the goodies $100k seems reasonable for a car built like the M2 car (i'm also including the price of labor, tuning, etc...).

BTW, does anyone know what type of single turbo the m2 car has?

Well, that makes my car an absolute steal at $27k... <g>

1FooknTiteFD: I thought you hated M2-- are you really thinking about buying that car? If you're looking for a 3d Gen track car, Brad's looks like a much better buy...

Since it was built for Speedvision GT it has to run OEM twins - But I think they can be upgraded to the 99 spec units and run NonSeq. the rules try to limit the gt cars to >450 HP on a sliding weight/HP scale, ie lighter cars are have more HP restriction.

Haha, I wish I had 100k to spend on a pure race car! I'm not rich you know? Also to clarify, I don't "hate" m2, I just think they make low quality products and have bad service and customer support. I've met brian before and he's a really cool guy.

Actually at Hot import nights in San Mateo, I saw the car up close when brian opened the hood, and it does indeed have a single turbo. Just don't know what kind it is though

Yea it is the Cameron Worth car that I was talking about. I was wondering what happened to it. Do you know if he's gonna redo the car according to the "new" rules, or just call it quits? *crossed fingers*

No, I haven't heard. I haven't seen Cam in about 9 months. The big issue for him is funding. Scott Sansone codrives and funds some races, but Cam needs that to run. There is always a chance they will run at Daytona Jan 31-Feb1.

hey brad...since you seem to know m2's car and specs inside out. what type of tranny does it have? and what type of shocks does it have? IMO i think your dogging m2 to make yourself look better.

Another feature I remember the M2 car having was that it had a sequential shifter transmission. No need to step on the clutch to change gears, pretty damn hardcore and also a carbon fiber dash and big brake kit on all 4 brakes too

scratchjunkie, don't hate on brad his car is very nice. I agree that brad's car is probably a more bang for the buck car than the m2 racecar consider his is only 1/4 of the price and just as fun.

comparing M2's car to a porsche GT3RS is just not fair. the GT3RS is designed solely for racing and all parts of the car are constructed for racing. yes, it does look like a current 911 but that is all. even a single turbo RX7 would be no match for a GT3RS on the track. in world challenge the Pettit RX7 gets killed by the GT3 cup car which is significantly slower than the RS. comparing ten year old race cars to current models is not fair to the older car. looks like this car was built to be a track car but it was not raced professionally ever(if this is not their world challenge car). the GT3RS is an incredible race car and at the moment can handle itself against alot of higher powered race cars. check the coverage of the POC's tribute to LeMans on speed channel. there were several 700+HP turbo 911's in that race and all were beaten by two GT3RS's. As for the sequential trans claimed to be in M2 car it is most likely the mazda motorsport trans which is dog ring but not sequential. neither will need the clutch for up or down shifts. Quaife and Hewland make sequential gearboxs that could be adapted to the RX7. in my opinion 100k is about 60k over priced since I could buy a used GT3 cup car in great condition for 120k-150k, and be competitive in World Challenge GT.

With enough mods the RX7 could hang with the GT3RS. All it takes is research and development and money. Notice how long the GT3RS has been running in that series and then how long the RX7 has been there, it's the same for pretty much every team there is. Just like the RSX (Integra DC5) in the World Challenge, right now it's getting THRASHED (with a super duper size T) by the Integra owned by the same team (RealTime Acura), after some R&D time it will surely beat the old DC car.

I am sorry but without a complete rework of the entire chassis you would never see the GT3RS on the track. I have been on track with these cars and with proper drivers are incredibly fast. Just from lap times at our local tracks these cars are much faster than any of the GTO RX7's of old. these cars are only a couple(2-3) seconds a lap slower than the GTS cars(Saleen S7, Corvette C5, and Viper ACR). fastest 3rd gen I have seen is nearly 10 seconds a lap slower on the same track, and this car has all the race parts that can put on a 3rd gen(dog ring gear box, triple adjustable Penske shocks, radial slicks, lightened chassis and body). the developement time would be so long that the newer GT3 would be on the track before you caught the older ones. this is a highly developed purpose built race car not a modified road car. If Mazda spent the time and money to develope a purpose built race car in this fashion and designed it to look similair to its road car you would have something. professional race cars are light years clear of modified road cars.

I agree with tims, and i've been roadracing a 93 rx7 since 97. Its hard to compete with factory engineers, lots of weight over the rear tires, awesome brakes, and more bottom end torque any 13b will ever have. I was watching an alms race and it took Ron Fellows (top driver) a whole 2 laps to pass a gt3rs with his factory 600+ hp , tube frame, factory supported corvette.

The MAIN reason there are no competitive RX-7s in North American or European GT racing is that MAZDA has no reason to provide factory support &/or R&D to teams running a car that has not been sold in these markets since 1995 Back when the RX-7 was available here they so dominated IMSA GTU & GTO that by the time the 3rd gen came on the market IMSA had restriced rotaries to the point of making it almost impossible for them to be competitive.
The RX-7 is still competitive in it home market (JGTC) and I am guessing that by 2004 we will be seeing RX-8s in GT racing in North America.

jgtc , its competitive, but don't forget its with a 3 rotor and very little stock parts.

Not to start a stupid argument, but what you said just proves (tims) that all they really need is development time. The GT3RS while it is a RIDICULOUS beast, is still based on the 911 Turbo. All they did was take plenty of time to R&D about the car what works and doesn't and what everyone else has. If Mazda did the same it would have the same results, they've just never really had a reason too yet unfortunately. :( Hopefully it's time is soon.

BTW, if anyone was wondering Cam had his FD in the Virginia round of the World GT series (the final race), so he skipped road atlanta, but did come back for the final race (you actually get to see his car this time on the re-air on SPEED). Unfortunately he had a problem with the car going off course (forgot what happened to him cause I was busy talking to someone) and didn't finish but was in 16th place at the time (making his was up). The last race at Laguna he started in 16th I believe and finished in 12th. So I guess he isn't gonna call it quits after this year :D...hopefully.

scratchjunkie... I wasn't dogging M2 or the car, I was dogging the fooking price. $100K is about $50K too much for that car.

When RX-7s were dominating IMSA GTO that was w/ 3 rotors also so whats the piont? JGTC rules are much more restrictive about oem part content than IMSA GTO ever was.

Regarding a GT3RS Porsche versus a track RX7:

I have some REAL data for you guys from last weekend at Texas World Speedway. I have a friend, Randy Posejpal, who just bought a GT3RS that finished 6th OVERALL at LeMans in 2001 and has been reworked for ALMS/Grand-Am. Randy has a second seat in the car and I went for a ride with him (WOW), PLUS we were on track together during the instructor sessions. Bottom line, my car was turning 1:56.5s with .8 bar boost. Randy turned 1:51s. He is on Goodyear slicks, I am on Hoosiers. His car is probably capable of 1:48s on the track, I am capable of maybe 1:54s with 12psi and new tires with a perfect lap.

One lap, we entered the long main straight with Randy behind me. I pointed him by and pulled in behind his car. For those of you who do not road race, it is very hard to catch back up to someone like that but I was able to get back into Randy's draft and stay about 6 car lengths back into turn 1 at about 150. He did leave me through the turn 1-2 sweeper because of stickier tires and better overall grip. As good as I have made my car handle, the GT3RS is damn strong.

That is REAL data, same day, same session, same track.

I understand how strong the GT3RS is (did anyone watch the final round of World GT...the battle between Pobst/GT3RS and Yound/Saleen was just short of incredible! :D), I've been in love with that car for a long time now (I like the GT3 more than the GT2 despite the fact that the GT2 is faster, I just like the pureness of the GT3). All I'm merely stating is that given enough research and development you COULD campaign an FD RX7 with successful results against the GT3RS. It will take a lot of work to get that to happen because they have a huge headstart (which is why whenever a new car is entered into the series they ALMOST never do "well"). Just think about it, what were are basically doing as a club is doing research and development (except we don't get paid for it...haha) on a car that is basically 16 yrs old and trying to get it to compete/exceed cars that are newer and used with a wealth of knowledge that wasn't available when our cars were made. Basically we're "Mazda Engineers" and just don't realize it...

you have some similair looking models confused. the GT3RS is the cars run in ALMS and Grand Am, a GT3 Cup car is the cars seen in Speed World Challenge GT(these are not the same car under the sheet metal), and a GT3RS is much faster on a track than a GT2. If your friend indeed has a GT3RS and cannot put at least 10 seconds a lap on any RX7, you are either one heck of a driver, your friend needs some more seat time, or that was not a GT3RS. I have seen pro caliber drivers in GT3RS's lapping consistently 5plus seconds a lap over equally competent drivers in GT3 cup cars. Also in world challenge cars are restricted to even the field some cars run smaller tires and air restricters to even things out. The GT2 race car is so old now that even with an unrestricted engine(unlimited boost) it cannot keep up with a well driven GT3RS. the problem with the RX7 is the technology is dated and short of redisigning the entire chassis you will always be at a disadvantage to the newer purpose built race cars. this is what was done to the Japanese touring car mentioned earlier. the body looks similair but the entire chassis was changed. this is not a heavily modified road car.

Tims,
I KNOW the difference between a GT3RS and GT3Cup car. Randy's car is a GT3RS (as I said) out of Kevin Buckler's Racer's Group which imported it from Seikel in europe (who ran it to 6th at LeMans in 2001). Mike Hartige had his new GT3Cup car there last weekend, too. It WAs interesting to compare the two. Mike ran a low lap of 1:51 and change during qualifying.

Now, my RX7 is VERY well setup and I have been driving TWS since 1970. As I said, can do a 1:54 on new tires on a perfect lap. Randy was shaking down the car for the forst time and was building more and more speed all weekend.

I cannot keep up with OR compete with either of these vehicles or drivers. If you read the posts, that was my point. However, their cars are NOT 5 seconds per minute faster than my car, during last weekend, at my home track. you are correct about the technology, etc. I was trying to explain to those earlier posters that the WC Rx7s are never going to be competitive race cars again in 2 rotor trim.

I wish they could use the 3 rotor in the 7 for the challenge, like I said we're always gonna be chasing the competition because we have to make out technology from basically scratch (or learn to adapt to theirs) because of the fact that our cars are "old". It's possible, but I don't know if it's worth it to people to do it right now for those classes, I'd love to see it though! I wonder what they're gonna do with the RX8 since nobody has really seen the limits or reactions that the motor has to modifications.

I had the opportunity to attend the last round of the Speed World Challenge at VIR the other weekend and was able to talk to Cameron Worth and the Pettit team who were very cool guys by the way. Cam took the time to answer a couple of questions I had and the rest of the crew was not only nice, but very funny as well.

The car that Cam and the Pettit crew are campaigning now is not the original GT car that won the GT race in 98'. It is, in fact a newer car which is different in some ways (I'm not sure as to the exact specs. of the original).

I read the SCCA Speed rules regarding the RX-7s, but Cam's car runs a single Garrett. If I remember correctly he was running 6-8 lbs. of boost through the motor as well. Cam said that they have had some "teething problems" with this car and have yet to get things sorted out completly.

Cam and the crew also mentioned the fact that they were accustomed to running on sticky Hoosier slicks and have had to do quite a bit of adjusting to compensate for the loss of traction while running on the Toyo tires.

One more thing was the "For Sale" sign in the rear glass. I asked them what the deal was, hoping they weren't quitting racing all together, and the response I received mentioned something along the lines of Mazda's possible offerings of four factory backed RX-8s sometime very soon. ;)

I can't remember where I heard that, BUT I've also heard something about Mazda having a few (I didn't hear 4 though) RX8 factory backed cars. I really hope so, it'll be pretty sweet. I'm sure Peter Farrell will also campaign a few cars too.