MAZDA

In 1991, Mazda achieved an overall victory in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Although Johnny Herbert saw the glorious checkered flag being waved at him as he crossed the finish line, he unfortunately fainted due to tremendous stress, fatigue and dehydration, and collapsed almost as soon as he got up. Since he was promptly taken to the hospital, he became the first person that, despite his grand victory, was unable to stand on the ceremonial podium among the three winning drivers.

Twenty years later, Mazda received an offer from the organizers of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The organizers proposed that Mazda conducts a demonstration lap before the start of the Le Mans race to be held that year, in commemoration of the 20th anniversary of its victory in the race. Longtime fans of the 24 Hours of Le Mans would clearly remember Mazda’s victory in the race, together with the powerful sound unique to the rotary engine.

Although the company was honored to receive such an offer, there were many hurdles to overcome in accepting it. It had been 20 years since the company achieved an overall victory in the race. The company had already withdrawn from motor sports, and Mazda speed, which had been in charge of the operation of motor races, had been dissolved. Although the Mazda 787B #55 had been treasured at the Mazda Museum, its glory days of running on the circuit at full speed, were long gone. In addition, most of the staff members who were well versed in the mechanics of the vehicle had already retired from the company. On the business side of things, the company’s financial situation was on a rocky road at the time due to the impact of the global financial crisis, and it was difficult to obtain in-house approval for the offer. The official go-ahead was finally given within a few months leading up to the demonstration lap, thanks to the efforts of passionate staff members. Only three months before the demonstration lap, the car was restored to as close as possible as its state when it won the race, with a new mounted engine sufficiently durable in full throttle driving conditions and a fully restored body capable of supporting speeds up to 350 km/h.

Finally, the day of the demonstration lap came. The victorious Mazda had retained all its glory and making his way over to it was none other than Johnny Herbert, who crossed the finish line in first place with the car back in 1991. Since it had been a long time since he had retired as a driver, he went on a diet and pushed his body to the limits until he could fit back into the same racing suit that he wore all that time ago. In response to his enthusiasm, Mazda staff members gave special permission not to impose any limitations on the number of rotations of the engine. Partly in order to allow fans to hear its beautiful exhaust notes, but also because they wanted the car to run in top condition on the Circuit de la Sarthe to show the car’s original performance.

Although the car was scheduled to run only a single demonstration lap at first, it was specially permitted to run a second one by the organizers. Under the gaze of a large audience, the Mazda 787B made its way around the circuit. First one lap then another, Herbert gradually regained his former brilliance behind the wheel. Emitting a beautiful sound from the four-rotor engine, the Mazda 787B mesmerized fans who had gathered at the Circuit de la Sarthe.

After playing his important role and returning the car to the pit lane, the podium kindly and specially prepared by the organizers was there waiting for him.

Being a cheerful person, Herbert jokingly acted like he could not stand due to dehydration, reenacting the scene from 20 years prior, and had those involved carry him to the podium. He then gestured as if he was doing a champagne celebration, which he had wanted to do but unable to after winning the race in 1991. Mazda staff members who remembered him from the day of the race, were seen tearing up at the sight of him standing there.