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Quick question for you guys since you would be the experts.
I have a buddy with a ZR1 and I need to keep up.
Would this platform be able to hang with the ZR1 around a track like Sebring? I do truly believe I am the better driver but this is a hell of a car to try and chase around a track.
His car is full street trim and mine would be as well.
Street trim vs street trim?...That's a tough one. The ZR1 C6 is a VERY capable car right out of the box. It boasts more power at a similar weight level to FDs while also being able to tuck under some serious rubber. I do love the Rx7 platform, but to make it as fast as a ZR1 is gonna cost quite a bit of money. Sebring is also more of a horsepower track so that definitely doesn't help either.
FD can pack way more wheel and tire than most people use. I have 305/30-18 on 18x11 +45 squared on rolled fenders, so for the 2,600lb FD that is good contact patch for cornering.
But to match the power to weight of ZR1 you are going to have to replace all the FD running gear to handle the torque reliably (trans, rear end, related mounts). And even then the larger ZR1 platform with is just less twitchy/responsive and so easier to drive at that power level.
Unless you enjoy being the triumphant underdog, my vote would be for Viper GTS, a lot of aero and some forced induction.
If you spend the same amount of money he spent buying the ZR1 I bet you could pull it off quite easily! If your the better driver that is.
I raced a newer 2016 GTR in my stockish rx7 and was taken to "gapple-bee's" which seems to be around the same power level/cost of a ZR1 isn't that like a $100k super?
Maybe a 450-500hp single turbo FD could do it? You'd be better off buying literally any 100k super in my honest opinion. Porsche has some nice cars in that range lol.
His ZR1 makes about 840whp and it is a handful to say the least.
I am a true fan of the RX7 all around but you are incredibly correct that that long straight at Sebring favors big power and there are many other areas as well.
I just prefer the look of the RX7 and I have no problem putting money into the platform at all because my cars are my hobby.
My wife thinks I should put the money into my BMW but I truly have grown to hate the N54 motor and at this point the people that buy them.
I knew that this would be a good sounding board for the reality of making this work. If I go to the Corvette forum they will all tell me to buy a Corvette and if I go to the Viper pages I would be told to buy a Viper but something about the rotary makes me smile.
This would not be my first rotary vehicle either so no worry about the shock once I buy it.
Could you clarify your position on the n54? Turbo rotaries are pretty finicky in their own right. With regard to owners, just tired of the stereotypical bimmer crowd?
Personally, I wouldn't chase the goal of matching the power to weight of that car with the FD. Build it to something you like and want. That kind of power is a bit much for a street car on track without safety equipment.
Could you clarify your position on the n54? Turbo rotaries are pretty finicky in their own right. With regard to owners, just tired of the stereotypical bimmer crowd?
Yes no problem at all. I am tired of both the crowd and the car as well. I am incredibly meticulous with my maintenance but unfortunately the things that tend to go wrong with the car are not something you can prevent as they are all of a sudden problems.
I hope that makes sense. Also most of the issues there is not an upgrade for, you just replace and hope it does not happen again.
I have had my fun with the car. It runs full E85 and makes 620whp on low boost.
That kind of power is a bit much for a street car on track without safety equipment.
It's got nannies that limit it's power. Would love to see people with high HP cars drive on a road course with the nannies off. They'd be all over the place
I agree with not trying to force the FD to compete with the power monsters.
It can and has been done and isnt even that hard with turbo LS, but you arent playing to the FDs strengths (nimble, responsive and balanced chassis) with a 1,000hp FD.
In Japan the sweet spot for tracked FDs seems to be ~550-600hp low boost by using bridgeport or semi p-ports for flow with medium big turbos like T04Z/T51R or for us EFR 8374/9180.
They dont compete with 1,000+hp R35 down Fujis 1 mile straight, but they can pretty much make it up in the turns- and really shine on shorter tracks and destroy in longer races with tire management.
Putting the money into your BMW to hang with a ZR1 is throwing good money after bad. I wouldn’t even bother.
You’ll only need about 500-550 HP to “hang” with him in a race track if you can drive. He can’t use 1000 HP on the track in “street trim” anyway.
If you put an NA LS7 or built LS3 in an FD you’ll hang with him on the track. If you go V8 or Rotary you are going to have more money in the FD to make it run with that car than it costs to just buy or build a simple HCI C6 Z06 that will run with him. You are gonna spend $25-$30k to get a sorted street trim, fast RX7.. that is above and beyond the cost of the car.
Or you can just bank on the fact that he will put the ZR1 into limp mode every time in the track, and you’ll pass him with your stock FD or N54
full disclosure - my V8 RX7 runs with exotics and fast sports cars in street trim on the track all the time.
Last edited by LargeOrangeFont; May 8, 2020 at 07:20 PM.
I still prefer the looks of the 7 over the Corvette and Viper so I still want to go that route I believe.
He is really pushing me to swap it ASAP but I would prefer to buy a mildly built rotary and pack away things for a swap when it blows down the road.
The biggest thing about the 7 is that I think I would also put the back seats in so my kids could take a ride every once in a while as well.
I love his car and it having the Loma II wide body makes it huge in person but in another 10 years his car will still look like an old Corvette and the 7 will still be timeless.
I still prefer the looks of the 7 over the Corvette and Viper so I still want to go that route I believe.
He is really pushing me to swap it ASAP but I would prefer to buy a mildly built rotary and pack away things for a swap when it blows down the road.
The biggest thing about the 7 is that I think I would also put the back seats in so my kids could take a ride every once in a while as well.
I love his car and it having the Loma II wide body makes it huge in person but in another 10 years his car will still look like an old Corvette and the 7 will still be timeless.
If you plan to swap it, you are better off buying a clean V8 swapped one. You’ll be money way ahead. You’ll likely have to sort through some problems, but you will have to with any RX7 you buy.
