Encouraged by some good placings at Daytona and Le Mans with the RX7 in 1982, Mazda decided to build a Group C for 1983, equipped with the already well-known 300 horsepower 13B rotary engine. The 717C achieved a prestigious victory in the C Junior class at Le Mans, with Katayama, Terada and Yorino. Second was the sister car, driven by Soper, Weaver and Allam. This result brought Mazda enormous publicity which prompted the Japanese manufacturer to continue its commitment to endurance.