Total Buzzkill! – 634kW Three Rotor 20B-Powered FD3S RX7

2 October 2024

With an ex-D1NZ driver at the helm, an insane Green Brothers 20B powerplant and a trick suspension and diff combo, this RX-7 is ready to spoil the party, one award at a time!

Words and Photos: Danny Wood

Back in the early 2000s, if you owned anything with more than a 13B rotary engine under the hood, chances are you were a poster star in the bedroom of teenagers across New Zealand, featured by this very magazine. Fast forward to today and owning anything beyond a 20B will likely earn you the same poster status in today’s era. 

 

Taupo’s Rene Richmond wasn’t after that bedroom wall fame, but he did want an engine package that was going to give him the power and sound he was craving — a 20B PP that had the ability to chop gears like a cut cat with a sequential gearbox. He got that in 2020 and packaged a triple rotor into his well-presented Mazda RX-2, which now makes occasional appearances at special interest events like Rotary Reunion. Those event appearances are fitting too, as — not that Rene should need any introduction — was one of the original founders of Rotary Reunion and a former D1NZ driver between 2010 and 2014. His car of choice back then wasn’t any Silvia or Skyline, he stayed true blue to the Mazda family and competed in the sport with a 13B turbo-powered RX-7 which featured back in issue 200. Clearly, Mazda’s rotaries and anything resembling them are Rene’s world, and while we could spin you a story or two about the RX-2 — and believe us, that car has a few — the spotlight of this feature is on Rene’s latest build, a Green Brothers-tuned 20B turbo FD RX-7.

When questioned about his decision to build another RX-7, Rene unveiled his pursuit of the ultimate Mazda package, a journey that unsurprisingly led him back to a late series RX-7. Based on his previous builds, it was evident that any project he put his mind to would boast personalised touches elevating it to the next level. Being a drift car, everyone knows they are always at full noise and full lock, so not only did Rene seek a heap of power out of the 20B turbo but also the accessibility of parts to always keep him competitive. While the appeal of grabbing another 3 rotors was very appealing, the pull of the Garrett G42 ultimately sealed the deal on the 20B. It was clear Rene’s vision is not only to stay true to his Mazda building past but also setting a new standard for rotary enthusiasts everywhere.

 

That G42 turbo came at the recommendation of Richard Green, part of the legendary Green Brothers who are known for their rotary engine building and tuning abilities. With the combination of a bridge ported and dowelled 20B, a sizeable turbo, a TiALSport 60mm wastegate, IGN-1A ignition setup and a Link ECU it makes an impressive 634kW on 21psi. That power is thanks in part to the use of E85 which helps to keep things cool as it burns, but an intercooler water spray setup has been added for good measure. The rest of the mechanical package includes a four-inch stainless exhaust with a custom muffler that does its best to keep the car within permitted decibel limits but does nothing to reduce its raucous appeal.

 

To ensure the most of out the 20B, the gearbox and differential combo needed to be right. Popular amongst competitive drivers worldwide, a Winters Quick Change would take differential duties ensuring the power is distributed at the times when it matters most. When considering the gearbox however, Rene was no stranger to a decent sequential gearbox having run a TTI in the RX-2, however as the RX-7 is making twice the power of the N/A quadrotor in the RX-2, it was clear to Rene there was only one box he was putting in – Hollinger. This would ensure the 20B is always within its most efficient power band and allow the gear ratios to be set whether Rene is shredding tyres or in a grip session testing the limits of traction and suspension.

 

As much as the RX-7 was built for drifting, Rene came away with the forced induction roll race win at Rotary Reunion 2024 so it’s clear BUZKLA has plenty of power on tap and what better way to use all that power than entering a few grip session events. Sure, getting the RX-7 round corners at opposite lock, and pouring smoke is an absolute adrenaline rush in itself but there’s something about a tightly gripped track car pushing the limits of speed and control. Regardless of drifting or grip, the suspension is very much the unsung hero of the car. In this instance Rene chose to pack the build with a killer KW suspension and Part Shop Max combo, to ensure when he puts his foot on the loud pedal, the RX-7 stays planted to the tarmac.

 

Now when you consider where the bulk of the work happens for the driver; the interior, it needed to allow him plenty of control to showcase his skills. So, when Rene was considering the right setup for the cockpit, each item was carefully considered to ensure BUZKLA was the total package. The MoTeC dash is complemented by the 15-button CAN keypad — a command centre allowing Rene real-time data and control. Meanwhile, the OMP drift spec steering wheel allows the driver to feel the pulse of the machine and to ensure he’s locked in with the utmost support he added a Sabelt XPAD bucket seat and harness combo. Beneath, the Tilton 600 series pedal box offers responsive feedback, ensuring precise control over the throttle, brake, and clutch. However, it’s the advanced Link Extreme X ECU paired with the Link Razor PDM system that truly sets the BUZKLA apart, granting the driver complete customization and control over the vehicle’s performance parameters. This combination of technology and precision ensures every detail has been considered when creating an absolute track weapon.

 

With the catalogue of parts bringing this insane package together, the final touches of the BUZKLA build were crucial to its ultimate look. Among these two items that can make or break a build, are the body kit and wheel combo. While the market offers numerous options for RX-7 body kits, one that gained significant traction in NZ was the widebody Rocket Bunny kit, popularized by Mad Mike on his FD drift car MADBUL back in 2013. Opting for this iconic kit, Rene envisioned it paired with a wide set of staggered Rays TE37Vs, creating the staunch version one look for BUZKLA. However, whispers suggest that there’s already a new aesthetic direction in the pipeline!

 

Although posters may have now become a bit of a relic of the past, there are still machines like Rene’s BUZKLA RX-7 that car enthusiasts across NZ would be happy to have pinned up on their bedroom or garage walls. It’s the sort of car that sparks conversations and leaves onlookers wanting to see what’s next, making it the ultimate poster star for enthusiasts to admire and aspire to own one day.

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This article originally appeared in New Zealand Performance Car issue 308

SPEC LIST

Heart

 

ENGINE: 20B Bridgeport (Dowelled)

BLOCK: Long crank

INTAKE: Mazda Cosmo intake manifold

EXHAUST: Four-inch stainless to custom muffler 

TURBO: Garrett G42

WASTEGATE: TiALSport 60mm

BOV: TiALSport QR50

FUEL: Radium fuel tank 

IGNITION: IGN-1A

ECU: Link Extreme X ECU + 3x Link Razor PDM system

COOLING: Custom triple pass radiator, Green Brothers custom-made dual oil coolers

EXTRA: Water cooling spray system 

 

Drive

 

GEARBOX: Holinger RD6

CLUTCH: Direct Clutch

FLYWHEEL: Direct Clutch

DIFF: Winters Quick Change 

 

Support

 

STRUTS: 2-way KW adjustable coilovers

BRAKES: (F) Brembo brakes (R) RX7 factory rear brakes 

ARMS/KNUCKLES: Part Shop MAX multi-link and steering angle kit.



Shoes

WHEELS: Volk Racing Rays TE37V Mark ll (F) 17×9-inch (-20) (R) 18×10 (-25)

TYRES: 245/40/17 (F) 265/35R18 (R) 

 

Exterior

 

BODYKIT: Rocket Bunny Aero (V1)

WING: Luxury Sports

PAINT: Winter White  

 

Interior

SEATS: Sabelt XPAD

HARNESSES: Sabelt

STEERING WHEEL: OMP 350mm Rally 2 spoke

PEDALS: Tilton 600 series floor mount pedal box

INSTRUMENTATION: MoTeC dash, MoTeC 15 button CAN keypad, gauges

 

Performance

POWER: 634kW

TORQUE: Heaps

BOOST: 21psi 

FUEL TYPE: E85

TUNER: Richard Green



Driver Profile

 

DRIVER/OWNER: Rene Richmond

AGE: 36

LOCATION: Taupo

OCCUPATION: Business Director

BUILD TIME: Ongoing

LENGTH OF OWNERSHIP: Eight years

 

THANKS: My wife Jade, Richard Green, Chris Green, Carl Thompson and Darren Kelly