A drag race is always a fun thing to watch, but it’s much more unpredictable when it’s between modified cars. Stock versus stock is one thing, but seeing how two or more vehicles react to modifications and perform against one another is a whole different thing. This drag race, courtesy of YouTube channel Officially Gassed pits two very different machines against one another – a 540 horsepower Mazda RX-7 and a 580 horsepower Ferrari 458 Spider.
Mazda RX-7 FD
Built by Rota Torque, the Mazda RX-7 comes with a street-ported 13B REW, twin-rotary engine, with Goopy apex seals, upgraded fuel pump, “a rat’s nest delete”, which is essentially the removal of all emission-related solenoids and vacuum lines, and a standalone Apexi ECU. More importantly, the complex sequential twin-turbo system has been replaced by a single BorgWarner S363 turbocharger.
540 horsepower goes to the rear through the stock, five-speed manual, two-way OEM differential, and Federal RSR tires. The rotary rocket weighs in at around 1,300 kg (2,866 pounds).
Ferrari 458 Spider
The Ferrari 458 Spider is almost stock, featuring only an exhaust and upgraded air-intake filters. As a result, the 4.5-liter flat-plane V-8 produces 580 horsepower – 18 more than standard. The car also sits on air suspension and features an insane Liberty Walk widebody kit, with a LaFerrari-style lower front fascia.
The Ferrari’s seven-speed dual-clutch automatic with launch control should give it an advantage off the line. Being normally aspirated, the Ferrari 458 also doesn’t have to worry about turbo-lag, and its V-8 revs to 9,000 RPM.
What is the 0 to 60 mph time on both cars?
The Ferrari 458 Spider goes first, after warming up the rear tires. The Italian supercar manages the best time of 3.61 seconds to 60 mph (97 km/h). The Mazda, however, is at an obvious disadvantage with its big single turbo and manual gears. Moreover, the owner doesn’t do an aggressive time, which results in a best 0 to 60 mph time of 4.79 seconds.
Quarter-mile drag race
Each car does a solo run before they go head to head. The Mazda goes first and manages a quarter-mile time of 13.15 seconds, at 117. 75 mph (189.5 km/h). The Ferrari 458, with its DCT gearbox and launch control, covers the quarter-mile in 11.75 seconds, at 122.71 mph (197.5 km/h). For comparison, a stock Ferrari 458 is faster, which is probably due to the widebody kit, generating more drag. Regardless, the Ferrari is the faster car here.
Drag and roll race
By now, it’s obvious that the Mazda is losing badly from a standing start, but a 50 mph (80.5 km/h) roll race can give it a much-needed advantage. However, the Ferrari pulls strong right until the 9,000 RPM redline and while the RX-7 did not lose as badly as in the drag race, the Ferrari still won convincingly.
