Mazda 787B Free Papercraft Model by Sunny78

29 Sep, 2022

Mazda 787B Free Papercraft Model

Mazda 787B, The Legend Who Conquered Le Mans

Heroes will always be remembered, but legends never die... That's the perfect phrase to describe the Mazda 787B, the first Japanese race car to beat the Le Mans circuit, France, in a 24-hour endurance race in 1991. Unfortunately, after becoming champion, the organizers banned the use of the engine. rotary used by the 787B in later seasons.

Behind the controversy over the ban, the Mazda 787B now has an honorable position as a legend of the Hiroshima manufacturer and has a special "throne" at the Mazda Museum in Hiroshima.

While visiting the museum, paper hOles saw the 787B on display along with its controversial engine. Called controversial because some people believe the ban is a conspiracy because the Mazda 787B is too tough to beat.

What is clear, in 1991 Mazda became the first Japanese manufacturer to win Le Mans, although two other Japanese manufacturers are more favored. History also records, the 787B became the first race car to win Le Mans using a rotary engine by completing a distance of 4923.2 km with an average speed of 205.1 kph.

The story of 787B's victory is no less interesting. Driven alternately by three drivers, Johnny Herbert from England, Bertrand Gachot from France, and Volker Weidler from Germany, the car numbered 55 and started from 19th place. Two other Mazda 787Bs numbered 18 and 56 were in sequence 23 and 30.

At the beginning of the race, the car with the number 55 had poked into the third position. A few laps later, it was in second place behind the Mercedes-Benz C11 driven by Michael Schumacher, Fritz Kreutzpointner, and Karl Wendlinger. When the race lasted 22 hours, C11 was forced to enter the pits due to engine problems.

At the last pit stop, Herbert asked to keep driving the car and took the 787B across the finish line for the first time as champion. But at the end of the race, Herbert was exhausted and dehydrated so he did not join the podium with Weidler and Gachot.

Today, the story of the race is always remembered in the Mazda Museum. The legendary 787B has earned its throne as the proud race car of the country of the Rising Sun.