Harrier RX83C Monza

As the very first Group C Junior car to race the little, Mazda powered, Harrier RX83C gained a place in the motorsport history book. During 1982, the first Group C season, the rulemaker (FIA – Federation International de l’Automobile) introduced a new subcategory, Group C Junior. The RX83C was the brainchild of Englishman Lester Ray who, in the previous Group 6 era, had built the Vogue, a two liters sportscar raced mainly in UK. It was based on an aluminium sheet monocoque and was first equipped with a Mazda two rotor, carburetted, 13B engine. At first it didn’t show well at all, didn’t finish at Monza, didn’t start at Silverstone (Baker and Palmer), failed to qualify at Le Mans (Baker, Palmer and US Pierre Honegger). The RX83C was then entrusted to JQF Engineering, where it got a reworked suspension and revised fuel and cooling systems. Improvements seemed to pay off as Baker and Palmer finished fourteenth (first in class) at the Spa 1000. A fortnight later, at Brands Hatch, Baker, Palmer and Richard Down qualified well in eighteenth place, only more than two seconds (1m32.47s Vs 1m30.21s) down the class pacesetter, the turbocharged Alba Giannini, but didn’t finish. It was the car last outing in the World Championship. It was the car last outing in the World Championship.

powewred by Mazda 13B 2R 1308 cc Rotary (same as Mazda 717C Gr.C Junior)

10.4.1983 - Monza 1000
#51 Manns Racing
Driven by: Les Blackburn (GB)/Roy Baker (GB)
Result: did not finish (Rotor)
Grid: 15th (2:00.490)

More racing of Harrier RX83C here: https://www.racingsportscars.com/type/photo/Harrier/RX83C.html