Mazda RX-7 Group B
Mazda Rally Team Europe · 1983–1985
The only rotary-engined car to reach a world championship podium in the Group B years. Mazda Rally Team Europe’s rear-wheel-drive RX-7 was outclassed on most events but took a memorable third place on the 1985 Acropolis.
Episode 7 — The Underdogs: Toyota, Opel, Nissan, Mazda, Renault, Citroën, Porsche & Ferrari
The underdogs of Group B.
Mazda Rally Team Europe
The Brussels-based Mazda Rally Team Europe was created by former rally driver Achim Warmbold as a European preparation business, initially with little interest from Mazda’s headquarters. After a front-wheel-drive Group A 323 Turbo, the team built a Group B version of the first-generation (SA22C) RX-7, with its compact Wankel rotary engine mounted behind the front axle. See other teams.
Results
- 1984 Acropolis – Warmbold ninth.
- 1985 Swedish Rally – Ingvar Carlsson eighth.
- 1985 Acropolis – Carlsson and Benny Melander third, Warmbold sixth: the high point.
- 1985 RAC Rally – Rod Millen ninth and Carlsson tenth.
Privately entered RX-7s were also frequent in New Zealand, where Rod Millen had finished fifth in 1982 and Neil Allport sixth in 1986.
Rotary power and a podium on the 1985 Acropolis: Mazda Rally Team Europe’s RX-7.
Afterwards
Mazda turned to the four-wheel-drive Group A 323 4WD Turbo, which debuted on the 1986 Monte Carlo Rally. When Group A became the top class in 1987, Mazda was one of the few makes with a proven four-wheel-drive turbo car, and the 323 won three world championship rallies.
European and national championships
Ingvar Carlsson won the 1984 Rajd Polski, a European championship round, in a Mazda RX-7, and Marc Duez was second on the 1985 Boucles de Spa in one. See the European Rally Championship.
Results in the World Rally Championship
World Rally Championship podiums of the car (all evolutions), year by year (1982–1986). win 2nd 3rd
0 WRC wins · 1 podium finishes, 1982–1986
Photo gallery 2 photos
Historic Group B cars photographed at events, demonstrations and museums; each caption states where and when.
Further resources
- Inside Mazda: the RX-7 in world motorsport EN · article
Mazda UK on the rotary RX-7 and its Group B rally programme. - Hemmings: Rotary rocket — the Mazda RX-7 Evolution EN · article
The Group B RX-7 and Mazda Rally Team Europe. - FIA homologation: Mazda Savanna RX-7 (form B-255) EN · archive
The FIA's homologation record with dates, extensions and the scanned form.
More from Cars
Sources
- Wikipedia (EN), Mazda Rally Team Europe — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mazda_Rally_Team_Europe
- Wikipedia (EN), Mazda RX-7 — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mazda_RX-7
- Jonkka's World Rally Archive (juwra.com), results and entry lists 1982–1986 — https://www.juwra.com/
All text is original writing for Grouve Sports Management Group, based on the sources above. Facts checked on 21 October 2026.
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