What inspired New Zealand's screaming Mazda RX8? RallySport Mag caught up with Marcus van Klink about THAT car, along with his overall love for the rotary engine.
Van Klink also speaks of his love for spectator points, even though it frustrates his navigator.
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Name: Marcus van Klink
Role: Driver
How did you get into rallying?
I started off circuit racing, but wasn’t really that good on the tarmac. I was then told by someone I drove like a rally driver.
Before long, I was co-driving, which then led to me taking the wheel myself. My first rally car was a Datsun 1200
Mazda RX8 driver, Marcus van Klink. Photo: Geoff Ridder
Favourite rally moment you’ve experienced?
I got 'Green stickered' (made unroadworthy) by the police for excessive noise at the start of Rally NZ (driving a rotary, who would’ve thought?).
It was at the most recent WRC Rally New Zealand, which was in 2012. It wasn’t my best experience, but probably one I won't forget.
Favourite rally?
Otago Rally - the roads, the scenery, the organisation. I love it.
Marcus van Klink in his Mazda RX8 at the Otago Rally. Photo: Matt Whitten
Favourite driver?
Marcus Gronholm - his Finnish flare, as well as his funny end-of-stage manner makes him a very likeable character.
If you were not a rally driver, what would you be doing?
I run a plumbing company with outlets in Christchurch, Queenstown and Auckland, called Universal Plumbing.
Go to snack food?
KFC. It’s a rally tradition for our team after every rally.
Dave Neill and Marcus van Klink. Photo: Geoff Ridder
What sparked you to start rallying rotaries?
As a young chap, I was always in to early Mazda Rotaries. So once I had done my apprenticeship in 2WD rallying, I made the decision to build my Group B RX7. And as they say, the rest is history
Your RX7 was a beast in itself. What inspired you to build the fire-breathing RX8?
I was looking for a car which had a bit more space than the RX7. I looked at numerous different modern vehicles to fit a rotary to, and after driving an RX8 road car, I was very impressed with its natural sideways control and balance it possessed.
Although RX8s are very slow as a standard road car, in NZ, we are no strangers to making fast modified rotaries.
Describe the feeling of driving the RX8.
Well, the RX8 is just an incredible machine to drive. It has heaps of usable power and torque due to the 20B engine.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzpXvwt_0mM
It handles incredibly well in all conditions. Going 215km/h on gravel is pretty exciting, especially in a 2WD screaming Mazda.
Ask anyone, that is sure to get the adrenaline pumping.
The RX8’s sound is something to behold, and you drive it appropriately. Do you consciously try to please the crowd?
That is always an issue my co-driver Dave Neill and& I have. He dreads every spectator junction, as I like to put on a show, yet Dave knows that it often bleeds time.
van Klink's RX7 Group B replica has been a crowd favourite. Photo: Peter Whitten
Marcus van Klink, Mazda RX8, Otago Rally. Photo: Peter Whitten
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ApqkW07apno
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