The #55 Mazda 787B - chassis 002 - made history on the afternoon of June 23, 1991 by becoming the first Japanese car to win overall at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. In doing so, the 787B was the first Wankel rotary-engined car to win at Le Mans, as well as the first winner that was not piston-powered. On its 13th attempt at winning Le Mans dating back to the early 1970s, these were significant achievements for Mazda.

The 787B sports prototype race car was developed and campaigned by Mazda in 1991 for competition under the FIA’s Group C regulations. It evolved from the previous year’s 787, incorporating numerous changes that improved performance.

The first defining trait of the 787B is its Wankel rotary engine. This engine, the R26B, is a motor racing legend and embodies Mazda’s commitment to rotary engine development. Where a conventional internal combustion engine uses reciprocating pistons, the Wankel uses triangular rotors which rotate within their combustion chambers. The R26B consists of four rotors, displaces 2.6 liters, and is capable of 900 horsepower. Features include ceramic apex seals, three spark plugs per rotor, and continuously variable telescopic intake runners. This innovative intake system constantly changes the height of the intake runners based on engine revolutions-per-minute, allowing the engine to perform well throughout the rev range and the car to perform well in low speed corners and high speed straights. Testing revealed the R26B engine to be powerful, fuel efficient, and reliable. Mazda’s engineers were so confident in the R26B that they de-tuned the engine to 700 horsepower, deciding they could exchange a loss of power for a gain in fuel efficiency and reliability.

The second defining trait of the 787B is its sound. The R26B engine’s howl as it spins up to 9,000 RPM, and it's growl each time the driver downshifts through the gears of the 5-speed transmission are simply incredible. To our ears, the 787B is the best-sounding race car ever made.

The #55 Mazda 787B chassis 002, with sponsorship from Japanese clothier Renown and wearing its now-iconic orange and green livery, was prepared and entered into the 1991 24 Hours of Le Mans by Mazdaspeed. Piloting chassis 002 were German Volker Weidler, Englishman Johnny Herbert, and Frenchman Bertrand Gachot. They set the 12th fastest time in qualifying out of the 38 starters, but started 19th due to regulations in place at the time. Forgoing a typical conservative endurance race strategy, Mazdaspeed instructed the drivers of the #55 to treat it like a sprint race. They were in the hunt from the start, working their 787B up the running order, battling against established Le Mans winners Porsche, Jaguar, and Sauber-Mercedes. They broke through in the 22nd hour and did not look back, taking the race lead away from the #1 Sauber-Mercedes that suffered an engine problem. On their way to victory, the #55 completed 362 laps, covering a distance of 3,059 miles at an average speed of 127.6 miles per hour. Unlike its rivals, the #55 did not suffer from mechanical issues that would have slowed it down on track, and it did not lose precious time and laps making un-scheduled pit stops for repairs. And the R26B engine ran flawlessly, engineers were amazed at its like-new condition after it was disassembled for inspection. It was a great effort by Mazda, with the #18 787B and #56 787 sister cars finishing in 6th and 8th places respectively.

The 1991 24 Hours of Le Mans was the first and only race in which the #55 787B chassis 002 competed. Mazda retired the car from competition after this victory in the interest of preservation. Chassis 002 has been restored since then and Mazda has taken it on demonstration runs across the globe, delighting motor racing fans with its presence and sound. This Group C racing legend resides on display at the Mazda Museum in Hiroshima, Japan.

Multi-color print on a Orange 100% cotton shirt.