Mazda3 with 'wild' rotary engine conquers Pikes Peak

New Zealand drifter "Mad Mike" Widett will be taking on the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb this June (the event is 100th this year) in a Mazda 3 hatchback powered by an insane rotary engine.

As detailed in an Instagram post (first spotted by The Drive), the Pikes Peak Mazda 3 will have four rotors, four doors (excluding the rear hatch), and four seats. Widett also mentions a power output of 1,200 hp, but does not reveal any other technical details. It is also unclear in which class Widett will run and what records he will attempt to break.

The rendered image (above) shows four exhaust tips coming out of the hood and a huge rear wing. This, along with the generously sized front splitter and rear diffuser, should help maximize downforce in the thin air of Pikes Peak, which starts at 9,300 feet above sea level and climbs to a summit elevation of 14,115 feet.

As seen in recent Pikes Peak specials such as the Volkswagen ID.R and the Bentley Continental GT3 Pikes Peak, oversized aero devices will help compensate for the less dense Colorado air at that altitude.

This racer is arguably wilder than any car Mazda itself has created. Mazda has no plans for a new Mazdaspeed and has canceled the racing version. The sportiest version of the Mazda3 road car is a 250-horsepower 2.5 turbo model that performs poorly for an everyday hatch.

Recent patent filings suggest some interesting possibilities, including a two-door hatchback version of the Mazda3 and a rear-wheel-drive sports car with a rotary hybrid powertrain. However, there is no guarantee that either will be produced.