 A Mazda 787B in Odaiba in 2007 | |||||||||
| Category | Group C/IMSA GTP | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Constructor | Mazda Advanced Composite Technology | ||||||||
| Designer(s) | Nigel Stroud | ||||||||
| Successor | Mazda MXR-01 | ||||||||
| Technical specifications | |||||||||
| Chassis | Kevlar and carbon composite monocoque | ||||||||
| Suspension (front) | Double wishbone pullrod operated inboard Bilstein spring dampers. | ||||||||
| Suspension (rear) | Double wishbone top rocker-operated inboard spring dampers. | ||||||||
| Axle track |
| ||||||||
| Wheelbase |
| ||||||||
| Engine | Mazda R26B 2,616 cc (159.6 cu in)[1] 4-rotor naturally aspirated mid-engined, longitudinally mounted | ||||||||
| Transmission | Mazda/Porsche 5-speed manual | ||||||||
| Weight | 830 kg (1,830 lb) | ||||||||
| Fuel | Idemitsu | ||||||||
| Tyres | Dunlop 300-640x18/355-710x18 (275-620x17/330-700x17) | ||||||||
| Competition history | |||||||||
| Notable entrants |  Mazdaspeed | ||||||||
| Notable drivers |
| ||||||||
| Debut | 1990 1000 km of Fuji (787) 1991 430km of Suzuka (787B) | ||||||||
| First win | 1991 24 Hours of Le Mans | ||||||||
| Last win | 1991 24 Hours of Le Mans | ||||||||
| Last event | 1991 430 km of Autopolis | ||||||||
| |||||||||
| Constructors' Championships | 0 | ||||||||
| Drivers' Championships | 0 | ||||||||
The Mazda 787 and its derivative 787B are Group C sports prototype racing cars that were developed by Japanese automobile manufacturer Mazda for use in the World Sportscar Championship, All Japan Sports Prototype Championship, and the 24 Hours of Le Mans from 1990 to 1991. Designed to combine a mixture of the Fédération Internationale du Sport Automobile (FISA) Group C regulations with the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) GTP regulations, the 787s were the last Wankel rotary-powered racing cars to compete in the World and Japanese championships, using Mazda's R26B engine.
Although the 787 and 787B lacked the single lap pace of World Championship competitors such as Mercedes-Benz, Jaguar, and Porsche, as well as Japanese Championship competitors Nissan and Toyota, the 787s had reliability that allowed them to contend for their respective championships. The reliability of the cars eventually paid off in 1991 when a 787B driven by Johnny Herbert, Volker Weidler, and Bertrand Gachot went on to victory in the 1991 24 Hours of Le Mans. As of 2023, this remains the only victory by a car not using a reciprocating engine design. It was the first victory by a Japanese manufacturer, and the only such victory until Toyota won the 2018 24 Hours of Le Mans.
A total of two 787s were built in 1990, while three newer specification 787Bs were built in 1991.[2]
- ^ Shimizu, Ritsuharu; Tadokoro, Tomoo; Nakanishi, Toru; Funamoto, Junichi, "Mazda 4-Rotor Rotary Engine for the Le Mans 24-Hour Endurance Race" (PDF), SAE Technical Paper Series 920309, Warrendale, PA: SAE International, p. 3
- ^ "Mazda Chassis Numbers". World Sports Prototype Racing. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved 2008-03-29.