About Mazda 787B, and Its Story

Mazda 787B is a Group C prototype racing cars that were built and developed by Mazda to compete in the World Sportscar Championship, All Japan Sports Prototype Championship, and the 24 Hours of Le Mans from 1990 to 1991. It designed to combine FISA's (today: FIA) Group C regulations with the IMSA's old GTP regulations. The Mazda 787B also powered by R26B Wankel rotary engine that produce its famous sound, alongside with 700 horsepower (or around 522kW) at 9000 rpm. It also weighs only 830 kilograms (around 1,830 lb), making the power to weight ratio really close, around 0.628 kW per kilogram, or 0.382 hp per pound. It became famous after winning the 1991 24 Hours of Le Mans, also with its appearance on the video games, such as Gran Turismo series.

Mazda 787B makes its first debut in 1911 430 kilometers of Suzuka, with Maurizio Sandro Sala and David Kennedy as drivers. They qualified 9th overall, and 4th on its class, nice for debutants. On the race, they finished 6th overall, also 4th on its class. Then, the 787B detained in Japan, and the team uses the old 787 chassis for two races in Europe, at Monza and Silverstone. However, they don't get really lucky on both races. They finished 7th overall at Monza, and 11th overall at Silverstone. After those races, they're preparing for Le Mans.

In 24 Hours of Le Mans, Mazdaspeed puts two 787B for the race. The #18 car, driven by Maurizio Sandro Sala, David Kennedy, and Stefan Johansson, started 23th after qualifying. The #55 car, driven by Bertrand Gachot, Volker Weidler, and Johnny Herbert, started 19th after qualifying. In the race, they performed solidly, with only few issues. The #55 car took the victory, while the #18 car finished 6th. This victory became one of the most memorable wins in Le Mans, also became the first win for Japanese manufacturer, and the only win for rotary-powered prototype.

After Le Mans, Mazda retired the winning 787B car. The two remaining cars still competed in few races until the end of the season at Autopolis, then totally retired after regulation changes.

Overpowered or Overrated?

Mazda 787B is well-known with its Le Mans winning story. Some people stated that the car was later banned because of its powerful engine. The story become hyped between newcomers of motorsport enthusiasts. However, the facts were opposite with the stories that spread in the social media. The 787B wasn't actually as powerful as told, unfortunately, its overrated.

Here's why the Mazda 787B is overrated:

1.Lacks of achievement

Mazda 787B has been competed in 21 races. Its only victory were at Le Mans. Beside of that, they only got their podium (outside of Le Mans) at 1000 kilometers of Fuji, where they earned 3rd position. Outside of that, they never get any podium.

2.Banned of regulation, not domination

This is where most of newcomers of motorsport enthusiasts misunderstood. As explained before, the Mazda 787B wasn't that dominant, and that's the reason of this misunderstanding. The FIA sets the minimum engine capacity to 3.5 liter similar to Formula One engine regulation, while the capacity of the R26B Wankel were 2.6 liter, far smaller than the minimum limit. That's the real reason of 787B units retirement.

3.The endurance racing concept

The vital thing of endurance racing is durability and reliability. Without that, the car will face many issues which leads to mid-race retirement. This is why those both thing, sometimes, more important than pure pace. In the 1991 24 Hours of Le Mans case, most of the cars faced mechanical issues and pit a lot than 787B did. That's the reason of Mazda 787B glorious respectful victory at Le Mans.

In the end, the #55 787B car is the respectful winner of 24 Hours of Le Mans. Their effort for the victory should be appreciated respectively. However, we need to verify the reliability of an information and to always check the sources to avoid overrating of a thing, such as this Mazda 787B.

Source: Wikipedia.

Photo Source: Cars and Drivers.