Next came the tuning, an extremely integral part of the BRS FD buildup, particularly since it would be used in our Time Attack series. It was handed over to JRX Rotary where the Hybrid Cosmo 13B was bridge ported, which is an extra port that's added to the edge of the street port where both the peripheral and side housings meet, which is good for a nice bump in power. JRX and BRS also looked to GReddy for its proven parts, going with its intake, exhaust, exhaust manifold, a huge T78 turbo, Type R blow off valve, and wastegate and intercooler. Additionally, JRX threw on its own oil pan and an aluminum Koyo radiator rests at the front of the engine bay, ready to lower engine temperatures. The transmission is all stock, but JRX juiced it up with a stronger set of its own axles, shifter, an Exedy triple plate carbon clutch, and a Kaaz differential. As of press time, the BRS FD is good for 550 horsepower at a screaming 9,000 rpm--nowhere near where BRS wants the 13B to be, which is at least 100 more horses. "We only used the dyno for an hour before getting it on the road to Buttonwillow," says Erwin. "For Time Attack, we made a couple changes on the fly that weren't working for us, but we managed to tweak it enough for Alex to make a few solid runs." The BRS FD eventually posted a 02:00.936, its best lap time of the '05 Time Attack. BRS expects its next outing to be even faster.
Through its partnership with Japanese suspension manufacturer Swift Springs and its US division, BRS was able to tweak the suspension with an adjustable coilover system and anti-sway bars that would ensure its performance on the track. And with close ties to Alex Pfeiffer, they allowed the Angry Hawai'ian to get his own Battle Version products in the mix, which includes the front and rear strut braces, bushings, custom end links, and a roll cage. BRS also managed to obtain support from Work Wheels, so the FD goes blingin' on the track with custom-wide 18x10.5 and 18x11.5 VSXX wheels with 275/35R18 and 305/35R18 Toyo RA-1 performance tires for its grip through the many turns, apexes, and long straightaways the car will have to endure.
The small and limited space of the passenger cabin has been fully stripped and customized for racing duty to Alex's specifications. The dash was ripped out for a custom carbon fiber replacement where the center console houses the Phantom White Auto Meter gauges and Ignited switches. Gone are all the factory seats and in their place sits a single Recaro Pro Racer SPG bucket. A Sport Rally 360 suede steering wheel, shift knob and pedals come from Nardi, but that's about the rest you'll find.
BRS' RX-7 is just phase one of its battle plan. It's currently in the works with Mazda to develop more performance-oriented vehicles, whether it's Time Attack or full-on power. "We're not done with the FD just yet," adds Erwin. "Our main goal is to make it perfect." With the way things are going, we'd say the odds are already in BRS' favor. More importantly, the FD is exactly what BRS promised us: a damn fine cover car.
By Wesley Allison
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