However, IMSA rules continued to allow the use of rotaries, which led Mazda to bring the R26B to North America, with refinements to better suit the shorter races and circuits.

For a chassis, Mazda would use the expertise of Crawford Composites to construct the monocoque, while Fabcar would assist in the project.

The tub would be built from carbon fiber, while the bodywork designed by Lee Dykstra and Randy Wittine would feature new sweeping lines, including a large exposed vent flowing out from the front wheel well.

The lone remaining RX-792P managed to take the green flag, finishing in a distant 15th place, nearly twenty laps behind the winner.

With the second chassis repaired, Mazda moved to Lime Rock Park, where the cars would finally show their potential.

After qualifying in the middle of the grid, the pair would come home in third and fourth places, three laps behind the winning Toyota.

However, the Mazda team would quickly rebound to take their best finish of the season, with a second place at Watkins Glen, even though this was actually five laps behind the winner.

A quick rebound would see fourth and fifth places at Road America before the team once again failed to finish with either car at Phoenix.

Mazdaspeed supplied the program’s 4-rotor engines and had developments undergoing testing on the dynomometer in Japan that were producing in excess of 700hp.

Subsequently, design mockups were underway to move the oil cooler into the side pods and enlarging the front-mounted radiator.

The program started in May 1991 in a vacant warehouse in Charlotte, North Carolina and by February 1992 the first car was assembled into these humble beginnings.