Mazda 787B – See An Icon in Action

The Goodwood Festival of Speed is an event not be missed, and if you’re going to be there in a couple of weeks (15th and 16th of July) you’re in for a treat. Naturally, there will be all manner of incredible, rare, loud, exciting cars being fired up the hill in petrol-detonating anger, but there is one in amongst them all that is sure to steal the show – the legendary Mazda 787B. You will, in person, be able to see and hear that four-rotor Wankel engine scream as Jonny Herbert – the man who took this very car to Le Mans victory in 1991 – wrings every last bit of grunt out of it. This is proof that old race cars don’t die, they just get more spectacular.

The 1991 Le Mans victory was a stand-out moment in the history of the Mazda rotary engine, a technology that highlighted Mazda’s ‘never stop challenging’ ethos. When at 4pm on the 23^rd June 1991 Johnny Herbert crossed the finish line at the Le Mans 24 Hour race to win it marked a huge achievement. Mazda had become the first Japanese manufacturer to win the world’s most famous endurance race, not only that they’d done it with a unique engine that had captivated the fans at the track with its ear-piercing soundtrack.

For the fans at Le Mans in 1991 the overriding memory will likely be the incredible scream of the Mazda rotary engines and the flames licking from the exhaust at night as the trio of Mazdas raced through the darkness. For the hard-working rotary engine engineers from Mazda achieving the ultimate recognition of their work will live long in their memories, while the winning team was a truly international effort, with Mazdaspeed’s efforts assisted by the French ORECA organisation, while British chassis designer Nigel Stroud and Belgian team consultant six-time Le Mans winner Jacky Ickx played big parts in the success, too.

Helped by the bold livery of Japanese clothing sponsor Renown, the Le Mans winning number 55 Mazda 787B has become one of the most famous Le Mans winners. Immediately retired from competition after the race, Mazda 787B chassis 002 now takes pride of place in the Mazda HQ museum in Hiroshima. Maintained in full working order it still captures the hearts of car fans the world over when it’s demonstrated, and this year, Goodwood will once again resonate to the sound of the Mazda 787B.

This is the stuff we, as classic car enthusiasts live for. The 787B might be a museum piece most of the time, but that doesn’t stop Mazda from rolling it out and giving it hell when the occasion calls for it. These cars need to run, and run hard. They need to be driven, to be experienced and to be seen. They are reminder of one of motorsport’s greatest eras, they’re evocative, they’re exciting and they still have thrills and excitement to share. Well done Mazda, we’ll see you at Goodwood. Ear plugs at the ready.