Mazda returns to Le Mans

…20 years after becoming the first and only Japanese car maker to win the famous race.

To mark the anniversary and at the invitation of organisers, Mazda will demonstrate the winning Mazda 787B on the Circuit de la Sarthe in Le Mans, France on Saturday June 11 before the 24-hour race begins. Additionally, the 787B will also take part in the Driver's Parade through the Le Mans city centre on Friday June 10.

Jointly developed by Mazda and Mazdaspeed, the organisation that managed Mazda's racing program, the 787B has a chassis designed to meet Group C racing car technical regulations and is powered by a four-rotor rotary engine that produces 700 horsepower.

Due to a change in the race regulations, 1991 was to become the last year that a rotary-engine car could participate in the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Since 1991, the winning Mazda 787B has mostly been on display at the Mazda Museum in Hiroshima, Japan.

As part of the 20th anniversary celebrations, various members of the 1991 Mazda team will also return to Le Mans.

The winning driver Johnny Herbert (England) will be joined by 1991 Mazda drivers David Kennedy (Ireland), Pierre Dieudonn#aace (Belgium) and other team members.