Check out a unique rotary Le Mans supercar with 1,500+ HP at the wheels

David Mazzei, founder of Mazzei Formula LLC in Alabama, has finally driven the result of a project that took him four years to get to this stage: a one-of-a-kind, street-legal supercar with a five-rotor engine and F1-like soundtrack.

Dubbed the Mazzei Formula Five, it’s built like an endurance racer but remains drivable on the street despite packing over 1,521 PS (1,500 hp / 1,120 kW) at the wheels. The build started with a kit car called the Superlite SL-C. It received a body-on-frame construction, glass-fiber body panels and dual-wishbone suspension at both ends. A tubular monocoque made from extremely rigid aluminum was put on top of the chassis, big enough to accommodate two people, and the whole build tipped the scales at under 1,100 kilograms (barely over 2,400 pounds).

The aforementioned Wankel engine sits right behind the seats, packing a massive G57 turbocharger, five rotors and a Holinger MXT six-speed sequential transaxle transmission. When fired up, the mill sounds much like the legendary V10s of the Formula 1 racecars popular at the turn of the millennium some 25 years ago.

We suggest watching the whole video to appreciate the build. And if you think Mazzei looks nervous driving his creation, well, that’s expected. According to him, piloting a monster like this without power steering or power brakes isn’t just challenging – it’s downright scary. Understandable, wouldn’t you say?