It was a horrible end of the 2008/2009 drag racing season for FC Datalogit FD3S pilot, Steve Rossen, who went out with rolling his 9-second RX-7 at the top end of Fram Autolite Dragway, Meremere. Over the off-season, Steve and Alice Rossen, along with the rest of the FC Datalogit crew, worked tirelessly to return to the strip this season behind the wheel of the ex-RX-7 Heaven tubbed FD3S '7 of Tony Bateson.

Slightly changed since it last saw the strip, the RX-7 features an entirely new external setup, along with the 13B engine plucked from the wrecked RX-7 that sent Steve into the 9-second books.

Over the weekend at No.8 Import All-Stars, Steve returned to the track for the first time behind the wheel of the new package. And immediately, the improved tubed chassis and tubbed rear-end showed its worth. On his first pass, Steve recorded a new PB of 8.91. Unfortunately, this would be as quick as he’d go throughout the remainder of the day, as the RX-7 stripped the teeth on fifth gear. Said gearbox issues aside, Steve still managed to make it through to the Sport Compact final, and rattle off a 9.07 to take second place.

Expect more from this car over the comings months.