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Takaharu Kobayakawa

Takaharu Kobayakawa

MazdaDevelopment lead

As RX-7 chief engineer took on weight reduction for the third-generation RX-7, and as motorsport chief engineer as well saw the 1991 Le Mans win

Timeline

  1. 1963

    Joined

  2. 1985
    RX-7 2nd generation
    RX-7 2nd generation

    1985–1992Development lead

  3. 1986

    Chief engineer in charge of the RX-7

  4. 1989

    Chief engineer, motorsport

  5. 1991
    RX-7 3rd generation
    RX-7 3rd generation

    1991–2003Development leaduntil 1992

    Worked with

    The Zero fighter wreck and "Operation Zero"

    Kobayakawa, who became RX-7 chief engineer right after the second generation's introduction, began developing the third generation alongside the ∞ (Infini) version and the cabriolet, and settled with the team on the keywords "shi-rin-en-kō" (aspiration, dignity, allure, elation). Unforgettable was an encounter with the wreck of a Zero fighter; he asked Takao Kijima to lead the effort and took on thorough weight reduction under the watchword "Operation Zero." The project also bought racing karts and a rotary-engine formula car to give members a wide range of experiences, and drew up the image of the sports car to pursue.

  6. 2001

    Left

Connections

    Takaharu Kobayakawa

    Takaharu Kobayakawa

    • Kenichi Yamamoto

      Kenichi Yamamoto

      Superior

      Kobayakawa joined Toyo Kogyo and was assigned to the testing section of the "RE Research Department", where he worked on rotary engine development under department head Kenichi Yamamoto.

    • Takao Kijima

      Takao Kijima

      Subordinate

      Kobayakawa, who as program manager for the RX-7 began development of the third generation, had Kijima serve as its leader, and they took on an all-out weight reduction with "Operation Zero" as their watchword.

    Profile

    Graduated from Gakushuin University, Faculty of Science, Department of Physics. He became program manager for the RX-7 and, in parallel with developing the ∞ (Infini) version and the Cabriolet, began development of the third-generation RX-7. He also served concurrently as motorsport program manager. After the third-generation RX-7 was launched, he worked in public relations and the design division, at Mazda North America and elsewhere, then retired and became a freelance motoring journalist.

    Translated from Japanese sources.

    Mazda engineers

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