Will this rotary-powered smoke show return from the dead?
They say beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but we can't stop staring at this stunning 1993 FD Mazda RX-7. Built piece by piece over a 12-year time period by teacher-turned-mechanic-turned-drift-driver Aaron Parker, this rotary-powered smoke machine is nicknamed The Wolf, and it's a glorious thing indeed. However, after a recent unscheduled meeting with a concrete barrier, it's possible Parker's RX-7 may be down for the count. Will it return to once again slay tires in the traditional brap-tastic fashion?
Parker's passion for the third-gen Mazda RX-7 was sparked when he first laid eyes on an FD at the age of 12. During his college years, Parker satisfied his speed itch with a turbocharged Acura Integra, but after the Teggy was totaled by another driver who ran a red light, Parker decided to take the insurance check and buy his dream car - a 1993 FD3S Mazda RX-7.
Parker worked as a teacher after college, but in his downtime, he wrenched on his rotary-powered sports car, teaching himself the intricacies of the Wankel engine and what was needed to coax additional ponies from it. Word of his skills got the attention of pro drifter "Mad Mike" Whiddett, who invited Aaron to sign on as team mechanic in support of Whiddett's rotary-powered Mazda MX-5 in the Formula Drift series.
As the story goes, Parker took the opportunity and left his teaching job to do race car stuff full time, eventually making the jump to pilot his personal Mazda RX-7 in competition, transforming it into the full-blown drift monster now known as The Wolf.
Although the performance is impressive, we have to start with that gorgeous exterior, which upgrades the two-door with a fiberglass body kit, as fabricated by BN Sports. Ever the tinkerer, Parker customized the kit to enhance the stock lines and cooling, once again employing his impressive self-taught knowledge and DIY ethic. Further exterior upgrades include a fully custom livery with vinyl by Superwow Factory, all with a magenta finish that simply demands attention. Strobe lights under the headlight covers add an additional jolt to the look.
Critically, Parker's Mazda retains the RX-7's turbocharged 13B REW rotary engine. Although countless drift builds opt to swap in a Chevy V8, Parker decided to stick with the weird and wonderful Wankel, giving him smooth power delivery, impressive power-to-weight, a stratospheric rev range, and of course, that signature rotary soundtrack.
Parker's 13B retains the OEM eccentric shaft and rotors, but forgoes the sequential turbos in favor of a single Borg Warner EFR 8474 snail, with a custom stainless steel exhaust manifold and external wastegates. This Mazda RX-7 drift car also runs flex fuel with tuning by FR Performance, plus a Radium fuel surge external dual-pump setup mounted behind the cabin. And check out the healthy layer of gold foil applied throughout the engine bay, adding style and improving overall heat management.
The powerplant is good for upwards of 650 horsepower, but Parker likes to run it around 520 horsepower for the sake of reliability. Output is directed rearwards through an HGT Precision sequential five-speed transmission and two-way diff.
Under those gorgeous body panels, you'll find fully tubular front and rear half chassis, as well as Parts Shop Max suspension. The suspension tuner actually developed its FD components using Parker's Mazda RX-7 as a test bed, and the race car now incorporates new upper and lower control arms, uprights, coilovers, and more, all of which help to dial in a smooth feel on track. The stance is substantially wider than stock, and there are shim stacks on the upper control arms to adjust camber for additional fine tuning.
Dual brake calipers were added to each rear wheel, with the second pair of pinchers providing instant lockup via the handbrake. Enkei rollers wrapped in Falken tires finish the handling spec.
Inside, the Mazda RX-7 is fully caged, with a matching magenta finish for the bars. There's also plenty of composite, with an EVO-R carbon fiber dash and Bubble Tech carbon fiber door panels. OMP is on hand for its RS-PT2 racing seats, quick-release steering wheel, and racing harnesses, while a Lexan partition in the rear helps to separate the external fuel cell from the cabin without hindering visibility - or styling, for that matter.
In his pursuit of sideways glory, Parker decided to take part in The Drift League, an officially sanctioned pro/am feeder series that provides a stepping stone to Formula Drift. Parker secured a top-spot finish in the first round of the 2021 Drift League season, giving him prime positioning to continue his career into the pro ranks.
However, as Tuner Fan covered previously, Parker ended up breaking an axle in the second round of the 2021 season, resulting in a heavy crash. Parker was unhurt, but The Wolf was severely damaged, with the entire front end of the vehicle caved-in by the collision.
So then, the question is this - what's next for Parker and his Mazda RX-7? Will he try to fix the damage and resurrect this once glorious drift machine? Or will he instead opt to build something new?
We reached out to Parker to find out more, and for now, he tells us that he's still undecided about what's next. That said, Parker does say he's "looking at all options," which leaves the door open for the The Wolf to ride again.
Either way, we can't wait to see what's over the horizon. Check out the full gallery of Mazda RX-7 drift car pictures below, and make sure to keep it on Tuner Fan for more drifting action.
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