With the factory choosing to spend its resources on gearing up for emissions legislation, Mazda’s racing efforts in the first half of the 1970s were limited to a handful of privateer efforts.Technical assistance would still be provided, however, and the company would keep developing their engines for competition use.


A 10A-powered RX-3 took a late 1971 victory, and Mazda’s reputation was raised immeasurably with a pole position and a 1-2-3 at the Japanese Grand Prix, held in May 1972. The race engines were rated at 260hp, thanks to a 48mm twin-choke Weber carb and a set of side-intake auxiliary bridge ports, which extended into the trochoid housing.