Group B Power From Japan!
What other better mode to welcome our website re-launch than to feature a Group B replica.
There’s little wonder that so many people look back on the mid ’80s as the golden era of rallying. Group B not only reinvented the sport from a technical standpoint, but it re-popularized it too. For a while, the World Rally Championship was bigger than Formula 1. During those crazy years from 1983 to 1986, Group B’s regulations – or lack thereof – challenged manufacturers to build the most extreme rally machines their competition departments could dream up. But it was a double edged sword. The cars became too fast and too dangerous, and that ultimately led to their abrupt demise.
The RX-7 made it's first appearance in the World Rally Championship at the RAC Rally in Wales in 1981 where it finished 11th. On the last year of Group B Mazda RX7 manage to place third at the 1985 Acropolis Rally, the best result in WRC.
Our feature presents Paul Szathmary aka. BASEDROP's RX7, a car build using as inspiration Rhys Millen’s perfectly preserved ex-Works ’84 Mazda RX-7.
There’s little wonder that so many people look back on the mid ’80s as the golden era of rallying. Group B not only reinvented the sport from a technical standpoint, but it re-popularized it too. For a while, the World Rally Championship was bigger than Formula 1. During those crazy years from 1983 to 1986, Group B’s regulations – or lack thereof – challenged manufacturers to build the most extreme rally machines their competition departments could dream up. But it was a double edged sword. The cars became too fast and too dangerous, and that ultimately led to their abrupt demise.
The RX-7 made it's first appearance in the World Rally Championship at the RAC Rally in Wales in 1981 where it finished 11th. On the last year of Group B Mazda RX7 manage to place third at the 1985 Acropolis Rally, the best result in WRC.
Our feature presents Paul Szathmary aka. BASEDROP's RX7, a car build using as inspiration Rhys Millen’s perfectly preserved ex-Works ’84 Mazda RX-7.
Q: First of all..tell us something about you...you are a relative new person on the RB community
A: I'm Paul Szathmary, 17 years old and I'm from Germany. I started to play NFSW back 3 years ago back in OpenBeta and since then I race the "World"
Q: So you are an "old school" player. And that reflects on your garage aswell..most of your cars are clean rides. What determined you to build a rally car, especially a wild Group B rally one?
A: Well it is rather special for me doing such a design. First of all I have to say that I love RX7s. So I brought the FC but I had no idea what design I should do. After sometime I remembered about an article on Speedhunters showing a replica of the Group B Mazda RX7 (FB) and boom there was the idea. The rest you can see on the Pictures.
A: I'm Paul Szathmary, 17 years old and I'm from Germany. I started to play NFSW back 3 years ago back in OpenBeta and since then I race the "World"
Q: So you are an "old school" player. And that reflects on your garage aswell..most of your cars are clean rides. What determined you to build a rally car, especially a wild Group B rally one?
A: Well it is rather special for me doing such a design. First of all I have to say that I love RX7s. So I brought the FC but I had no idea what design I should do. After sometime I remembered about an article on Speedhunters showing a replica of the Group B Mazda RX7 (FB) and boom there was the idea. The rest you can see on the Pictures.
Q: It looks lovely. Sadly NFSW has no wide bodykits for it. What other AM you have installed on it?
A: It really is a shame that NfSW doesn't have any but I hope there will be atleast one. The other AM stuff it's just what you get in the car dealer. Smokeblack tint, Lowering 3 and 17" Lowenhart rims. That's it.
A: It really is a shame that NfSW doesn't have any but I hope there will be atleast one. The other AM stuff it's just what you get in the car dealer. Smokeblack tint, Lowering 3 and 17" Lowenhart rims. That's it.
Q: Most rally fans consider Group B as the kings of rally cars...How is yours in performance? What parts do you have?
A: Sadly since my luck for racing parts is below 0 it has mostly the same parts as in the car dealer.
A: Sadly since my luck for racing parts is below 0 it has mostly the same parts as in the car dealer.
- Engine: GROMLEN Race engine 7-7-0
- Forced Indution: GROMLEN Race indution 4-4-0
- Transmission: GROMLEN Race transmisson 7-4-3
- Suspension: VELICOM Pro suspension 4-6-9 (only part that has changed)
- Brakes: GROMLEN Race brakes 0-0-7
- Tires: GROMLEN Race tires 3-4-7
Q: You will keep it in B Class or go further with the tuning?
A: I never know where it will end but I think since it's a Group B car I'll keep it there.
A: I never know where it will end but I think since it's a Group B car I'll keep it there.
Q: Well that's good news. We will organize a rally event for B Class..any chance we will see your RX7 there?
A: I'll definitly keep an eye on that event. Even if I might not win i'll do it to show the furious heart of my Rotor-racer!
Q: Your all time favourite rally driver? Favourite rally car?
A: Driver: Definitly Walter Röhrl! That guy is a lunatic and THE greatest Rallyman!
Car: The Porsche 959 Rothmans which won the Rallye Paris Dakar. And I have 2 reasons for that: 1. It's a Porsche 2. It's German ;D
Q: Something for your fellow german NFSW rally fans in your native language?
A: "Wenn man mal in mein Alter kommt, ist im Dunkeln fahren gar nicht mehr so lustig, weil da sieht man nix mehr in der Nacht. Ich hab in der letzten Zeit oft überlegt, ich könnte eigentlich noch Weltmeisterschaft fahren, weil die fahren immer nur am Tag... diese Weicheier!" - Walter Röhrl
Q: Anything alse you would like to add?
A: Well nothing else then that I might have a new project for RB...the only thing I say is that it will be a british car. So stay tuned and maybe we'll meet again!
A: I'll definitly keep an eye on that event. Even if I might not win i'll do it to show the furious heart of my Rotor-racer!
Q: Your all time favourite rally driver? Favourite rally car?
A: Driver: Definitly Walter Röhrl! That guy is a lunatic and THE greatest Rallyman!
Car: The Porsche 959 Rothmans which won the Rallye Paris Dakar. And I have 2 reasons for that: 1. It's a Porsche 2. It's German ;D
Q: Something for your fellow german NFSW rally fans in your native language?
A: "Wenn man mal in mein Alter kommt, ist im Dunkeln fahren gar nicht mehr so lustig, weil da sieht man nix mehr in der Nacht. Ich hab in der letzten Zeit oft überlegt, ich könnte eigentlich noch Weltmeisterschaft fahren, weil die fahren immer nur am Tag... diese Weicheier!" - Walter Röhrl
Q: Anything alse you would like to add?
A: Well nothing else then that I might have a new project for RB...the only thing I say is that it will be a british car. So stay tuned and maybe we'll meet again!
Article by SkidMK