Friday 3rd June 2016

Mazda 787B: Pic Of The Week

It's 25 years since the first and only rotary win at Le Mans - time to mark the occasion!

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The arrival of June can mean only one thing - Le Mans is but a couple of weeks away! We're getting ourselves prepped for this year's race, and hopefully you are too. Can Porsche repeat last year's success? Will Audi add yet another victory? Or could Toyota spring a surprise having invested so much in its car?

Whatever happens in the race, 2016 will be a significant Le Mans as it marks a quarter of a century since Mazda won the 24-hour with the 787B. Yep, 25 years. As racing cars to capture the imagination, the 787B has to be one of the most memorable. The wailing rotary combined with that vivid livery made for an unforgettable endurance racer.

This POTW comes from the 1991 race, presumably quite far in given the amount of grime on the car! Expect more from Mazda as the anniversary approaches, plus plenty from PH as the race draws closer. It's time to get excited!

Traditional (4:3)
Computer widescreen (16:10)
TV widescreen (16:9)
Portrait (smartphone etc)

 

[Fury1630]

A racing car that's nice to look at - those were the days!

[jeffohlen90]

The sound of that quad rotor 26B remains legendary amongst the most prominent LeMans racers to have graced the race.

[LP670]

jeffohlen90 said:

The sound of that quad rotor 26B remains legendary amongst the most prominent LeMans racers to have graced the race.

its probably my favourite sounding engine, unlikely to ever be bettered now in a world of hybrids and diesels.

[ivorbigun]

I saw one at a historic car meet at Donnington a few years ago and even without him trying very hard it sounded epic. Love it!

[lostkiwi]

LP670 said:

jeffohlen90 said:

The sound of that quad rotor 26B remains legendary amongst the most prominent LeMans racers to have graced the race.

its probably my favourite sounding engine, unlikely to ever be bettered now in a world of hybrids and diesels.

Agreed. Just awesome.

[AndySA]

In my mind the ultimate Prototype Sports Car of any era. Legendary

[Leins]

Got a good look at this car a couple of years ago

[LotusOmega375D]

I was there with my brother when it won. We weren't happy at all: we'd come to see a Jaguar win, but they "only" managed 2nd, 3rd and 4th.

Some young gun called Michael Schumacher impressed with his outright pace in the yellow mirrored silver arrow Sauber-Mercedes. I wonder what happened to him...

[TheRocket]

LotusOmega375D said:

I was there with my brother when it won. We weren't happy at all: we'd come to see a Jaguar win, but they "only" managed 2nd, 3rd and 4th.

Some young gun called Michael Schumacher impressed with his outright pace in the yellow mirrored silver arrow Sauber-Mercedes. I wonder what happened to him...

Same here and great memories of young Schumacher being seriously quick, back in the day when you could hang over the fence at the Chinese restaurant on the Mulsanne straight and actually get close to the cars, also somehow managed to blag my way into the pits during practice, Mazda sounded good but actually up close not a pleasant experience, Jag's on the other hand always sounded glorious

[Turbobanana]

I was also there, my third and (to date), last Le Mans.

Seem to recall one J Herbert getting out and immediately collapsing due to dehydration / heat exhaustion.

[turbo-ww]

Turbobanana said:

I was also there, my third and (to date), last Le Mans.

Seem to recall one J Herbert getting out and immediately collapsing due to dehydration / heat exhaustion.

Correct, and he missed the podium celebrations for that reason.

[turbo-ww]

TheRocket said:

LotusOmega375D said:

I was there with my brother when it won. We weren't happy at all: we'd come to see a Jaguar win, but they "only" managed 2nd, 3rd and 4th.

Some young gun called Michael Schumacher impressed with his outright pace in the yellow mirrored silver arrow Sauber-Mercedes. I wonder what happened to him...

Same here and great memories of young Schumacher being seriously quick, back in the day when you could hang over the fence at the Chinese restaurant on the Mulsanne straight and actually get close to the cars, also somehow managed to blag my way into the pits during practice, Mazda sounded good but actually up close not a pleasant experience, Jag's on the other hand always sounded glorious

My first one too. I remember listening to it almost all the way round the circuit.

I sort of got hooked. Been every year since. This year will be my 25th visit.

[Beati Dogu]

Here's some footage of Johnny Herbert taking the 787B out for a run round Le Mans again in 2011:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=az39eqLIbyU

I saw the car in the Le Mans museum the year before I think it was.

It sounds like mix between a hammer drill and a Stuka on an attack run.

[Mothersruin]

I was banging one of these around Le Mans last week.