It’s been 20 years already, yet it feels like yesterday when Mazda in 1991 became the first, and to date, the only Japanese manufacturer to win the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race. The weapon of choice was the rotary-engine-powered 787B, which sported a carbonfibre body, an output of 700 PS and a 210 mph (338 km/h) top speed.
The number 55 car, driven by Johnny Herbert, Volker Weidler and Bertrand Gachot, took the chequered flag after having completed 362 laps and 3,065 miles (4,928 km), with the two other 787Bs finishing in the top 10.
Now Mazda is bringing its carefully restored legendary racer to the Goodwood Festival of Speed. It will be driven by ex-F1 and Le Mans veteran Mike Wilds and Mazda works driver Mark Ticehurst in the hill climb, making its first appearance in full racing condition since 1991, though last month Herbert drove it in a demo drive at the Le Mans circuit.
Along with the 787B, Mazda will bring to Goodwood the 275-bhp MX-5 GT, which thanks to its power and low weight of only 850 kg accelerates from 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) in 3,0 seconds. Also present will be a tuned by “Banzai Magazine” MX-5 Roadster Coupe, and a classic 1967 Cosmo Sport.
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