In 1989, Mazda began testing a four-rotor rotary engined RX-7 GTO racing car. It had a weight-to-power ratio of less than 2kg/PS, which was outstanding performance. At the 1990 season opener (the Daytona 24 Hours) with the 1989 GTO champion Pete Halsmer as lead driver, Mazda took on the likes of the Mercury Cougar XR7 and the Nissan 300ZX and secured pole position straight off the bat. The RX-7 just missed out on victory, finishing the race with an impressive second to cement an auspicious start to the season.