This Is Mad Mike’s Insane 1,200HP RWD Mazda3 For The Pike’s Peak Hill Climb
The Pikes Peak Hill Climb is no stranger to highly modified vehicles, but with this year being its 100th year running, the hill climb will be featuring a very special build. This unique Mazda3 hatchback will run with more than 1,200 rear-wheel horsepower, and will be one of the most interesting cars to take to the peak in recent years.
The current-generation Mazda 3 doesn’t have a lot of aftermarket support, so seeing something as unique as this build is very special. It not only consists of a lot of conceptual parts and one-off development, but proves the talent behind the New Zealand drifter Michael Widdett and his team. Mad Mike, as he’s sometimes known, is known for his rotary builds, so we’re expecting nothing but ‘braps’ from this to-be monster.
Widdett plans on utilizing a four-rotor Wankel rotary engine, which he claims will produce 1,200 horsepower (1,217 PS / 895 kW) even at Pikes Peak’s high altitude. This power will be taken to the rear wheels instead of the factory norm, all while still having four doors and four seats despite the run not allowing passengers.
The vehicle seen in the concept renderings on Widdett’s Instagram will have a prominent chin splitter, a chassis-mounted wing, two rear hatch spoilers, side skirts, and a big diffuser. This alone would turn heads and that’s before the engine starts spinning up.
With coilovers at each corner, new wheels and presumably high-performance tyres, as well as an exhaust exit on the bonnet, this car looks the business. Add on the iconic Red Bull livery and this car looks just as fast as it will be when it finally hits the hill climb. We’re very excited, to say the least!
