Racing Icons – 1991 Mazda 787B LMP1 Winner + Rotary Engine Timeline

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1991 Mazda 787B 16

 787b

Wondered where the ‘LM55’ name of the new Mazda Vision Gran Turismo came from?

That was the racing number of the LeMans-winning Mazda 787B from the 1991 LeMans. The only Asian brand to ever win overall via the LMP1 class, this is a story of a racing achievement that still irks powerhouse Toyota, Nissan and Honda to this very day.

Mazda LM55 Vision Gran Turismo 14 Mazda LM55 Vision Gran Turismo 8

The 787B is also perhaps the ultimate evolution of the rotary engine — since its evolution beginning in 1588 as chronocles below.

Reaching such heights as winning LeMans was an epic moment for rotary power, and conincided with the launch of the redesigned RX-7 sports car the same year.

The benefits of a rotary engine are is extreme lightness, single moving assembly (the rotor) versus the numerous pistons of a four, six or eight-cylinder.

The engineering elegance has dominated Mazda’s mind since 1961, so the LeMans win in 1991 represented the pinnacle achievement for at least two generations of Mazda technical experts.

We celebrate the car today with a video and photo set from the 1991, plus photos from the 2011 anniversary run by the #55 race-winner around its old haunt: the curves and straights of Le Sarthe.

1991 Mazda 787B

ROTARY ENGINE TIMELINE

RE Chronicle

1588
  • Ramelli invented the first rotary piston type water pump.

1636
  • Pappenheim invented a gear type pump.

1769
  • James Watt invented the first rotary steam engine.

1799
  • Murdock also invented a rotary steam engine and succeeded in generating power.

1901
  • Cooley manufactured a rotary steam engine in which both inner and outer rotors rotate.

1908
  • Umpleby advanced Cooley’s steam engine into a rotary type internal combustion engine.1991 Mazda 787B 21 ??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? 1991 Mazda 787B 19

1923
  • Wallinder, Skoog, and Lundby announced their joint research on the rotary engine.

1938
  • Sensaud de Lavou further advanced the rotary theory.

1943
  • Maillard devised a compressor by applying the rotary theory.

1951
  • Felix Wankel collaborated with NSU to promote his rotary engine research and development.

1957
  • Wankel/NSU built a prototype DKM rotary engine.

1958
  • Wankel/NSU built a prototype KKM rotary engine.1991 Mazda 787B 18 1991 Mazda 787B 17 1991 Mazda 787B 16 1991 Mazda 787B 15

1959
Jul
  • Wankel completed the type KKM250 rotary engine.

1960
Jan
  • Wankel/NSU tested their rotary engine in public.

1961
Jul
  • Mazda made a technical contract with NSU and Wankel.1991 Mazda 787B 13 1991 Mazda 787B 12 1991 Mazda 787B 11 1991 Mazda 787B 10 1991 Mazda 787B 9

Nov
  • Mazda completed its own first prototype rotary engine.

1963
Apr
  • Mazda organized Rotary Engine Research Department.

1964
Sep
  • A prototype sports car powered by a rotary engine is unveiled at the Tokyo Motor Show.

1967
May
  • Mazda announced the completion of the rotary engine.
    The Cosmo Sport was introduced into the domestic market.

1968
Jul
  • The Familia Rotary Coupe was introduced.

1969
Apr
  • Mazda exported rotary engine cars for the first time (to Australia and Thailand).

Oct
  • The Luce Rotary Coupe (front-wheel-drive) was introduced.
    Mazda’s rotary engine car cleared the US Federal Government emissions test.

1970
Apr
  • Mazda received award from Japanese Mechanical Engineering Society for the commercialization of the rotary engine.1991 Mazda 787B 8 1991 Mazda 787B 7 1991 Mazda 787B 6 1991 Mazda 787B 5 1991 Mazda 787B 4 1991 Mazda 787B 3 1991 Mazda 787B 2

May
  • Export of rotary engine cars to Europe (Switzerland) started.
  • The Capella Rotary (powered by 12A unit) was introduced.

Jun
  • Export of rotary engine cars to the United States started.

Dec
  • Cumulative production of rotary engine cars reached 100,000 units.

1971
Sep
  • The Savanna Rotary was introduced.

Oct
  • Capella G-series, the first rotary-powered automobile with an automatic transmission, was introduced.
  • Cumulative production of rotary engine cars reached 200,000 units.

1972
Jan
  • The Capella Rotary Coupe completed 100,000km endurance run, through eleven European countries and with its engine fully sealed.

Nov
  • The first series production car with full emission control package, the Luce Rotary was introduced.
  • 1991 Mazda 787B 1 1991 Mazda 787B 36 1991 Mazda 787B 35 1991 Mazda 787B 34 1991 Mazda 787B 33 1991 Mazda 787B 32 1991 Mazda 787B 31

1973
Feb
  • Mazda’s rotary engine car cleared the U.S. 1975 emission standards, and this fact was confirmed by EPA test.

May
  • Luce AP (REAPS-2) was the first vehicle approved under the anti-pollution incentive tax in Japan.

Jun
  • Cumulative production of rotary engine cars reached 500,000 units.

Dec
  • The Luce AP Grand Tourismo powered by 13B engine was introduced.

1974
Jul
  • The Parkway Rotary 26 was introduced.

1975
Apr
  • The Roadpacer was introduced.

Oct
  • The Cosmo AP was introduced featuring a low emission rotary engine with 40% improved fuel-efficiency.

1977
Jul
  • Cosmo L Landau top was introduced.

Oct
  • Luce Legato was introduced.

1978
Mar
  • The Savanna RX-7 was introduced.

Nov
  • Cumulative production of rotary engine cars reached 1,000,000 units.

1981
Nov
  • The New Cosmo and Luce Rotary were introduced.

1982
Sep
  • The world’s first turbo-charged rotary engine model was added to the｡｡Cosmo (929) series.1991 Mazda 787B 30 1991 Mazda 787B 29 1991 Mazda 787B 26

Oct
  • The turbo-charged rotary engine model was added to the Luce (929) series.

1983
Sep
  • The RX-7 was face-lifted and the world-first turbo rotary engine model was added.

1985
Oct
  • The RX-7 was entirely redesigned.

1986
Apr
  • Cumulative production of rotary engine cars reached 1,500,000 units.

Sep
  • The Luce was entirely redesigned.

1990
Apr
  • The Eunos Cosmo debuted featuring the world’s first three-rotor rotary engine (20B-REW).

1991
Jun
  • The Mazda 787B achieved overall win at the 59th Le Mans 24 Hours race.

Oct
  • The HR-X concept car (with hydrogen RE) was unveiled at the Tokyo Motor Show.

Dec
  • The RX-7 was completely redesigned (with a 255PS 13B-REW unit).

1993
Oct
  • The HR-X2 concept car (with hydrogen RE) was unveiled at the Tokyo Motor Show.

1995
May
  • First public road trials of a hydrogen RE vehicle in Japan.

Oct
  • The RX-01 concept car (powered by a type MSP-RE experimental engine) was unveiled at the Tokyo Motor Show.

1996
Jan
  • The RX-7 was face-lifted (engine output increased to 265PS).

1999
Jan
  • The RX-7 was face-lifted (engine output increased to 280PS).

Oct
  • The RX-EVOLV concept car with the RENESIS experimental engine was unveiled at the Tokyo Motor Show.1991 Mazda 787B 25 1991 Mazda 787B 24

2001
Oct
  • A design prototype of the Mazda RX-8 (powered by the RENESIS) was unveiled at the Tokyo Motor Show.

2003
Apr
  • The Mazda RX-8 (with the RENESIS) introduced.

2003
Oct
  • RX-8 Hydrogen RE (development vehicle) was unveiled.

2004
Oct
  • RX-8 Hydrogen RE trials began on public roads with approval from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.

2006
Feb
  • RX-8 Hydrogen RE launched on limited release basis

Mar
  • Mazda Delivers First Rotary Hydrogen Vehicles to Corporate Customer Fleets

Apr
  • Mazda Delivers Two Rotary Hydrogen Vehicles to Hiroshima Government Authorities

Jul
  • Mazda to show RX-8 Hydrogen RE at Norway’s ONS2006 Exhibition

Oct
  • Mazda Delivers RX-8 Hydrogen RE to Yamaguchi Government

2007
Feb
  • Mazda Hydrogen Vehicle Takes Part in Cold Weather Testing in Hokkaido, Japan

Mar
  • Mazda Delivers Hydrogen Rotary Engine Vehicle to Japan Automobile Research Institute

Nov
  • Mazda to Participate in Norwegian National Project HyNor by Providing Hydrogen Cars to Norway From Summer

2008
Jun
  • Mazda Premacy Hydrogen RE Hybrid Gains Government Approval to Begin Public Road Testing in Japan

Oct
  • Mazda Hydrogen Rotary Vehicle Takes to the Road in Norway

2009
Mar
  • Mazda begins commercial leasing of Mazda Premacy Hydrogen RE Hybrid

May
  • Mazda reveals the Norwegian spec RX-8 Hydrogen RE at HyNor event

2012

Jun

  • Production of the RX-8 comes to an end1991 Mazda 787B 23 1991 Mazda 787B 22

1991 Mazda 787B

Mazda 787B 1991 Winning Car Returns to Le Mans After 20 Years

– The Mazda 787B’s incredible 4-rotor engine noise will be heard again around the Circuit de la Sarthe on June 11, before the 24-hour race begins –

HIROSHIMA, Japan—2011 marks the 20th anniversary of Mazda’s victory in the world’s most demanding endurance race, the 24 Hours of Le Mans. In 1991, Mazda became the first and only Japanese car manufacturer to win the race. In celebration of this anniversary, and at the invitation of the event organizers, the Automobile Club de L’Ouest (ACO), Mazda will demonstrate the winning Mazda 787B on the Circuit de la Sarthe in Le Mans, France on Saturday, June 11, 2011, before the 24-hour race begins.

 

The 79th 24-Hours of Le Mans is scheduled to start at 3 p.m. (local time) on Saturday, June 11, 2011, and finish at the same time on the following day. Mazda plans to hold the demonstration of the 787B racecar on the Circuit de la Sarthe at 12:30 p.m. on June 11. Additionally, the 787B will also take part in the Driver’s Parade through the Le Mans city center on Friday June 10.

 

The Mazda 787B has been specially restored and tested in preparation for the demonstration at Le Mans

 1991 Mazda 787B 28 1991 Mazda 787B 27 1991 Mazda 787B 22

The Mazda 787B is the first and only Japanese car, and rotary-engine car, to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Jointly developed by Mazda and Mazdaspeed, the organization that managed Mazda’s racing program, the 787B has a chassis designed to meet Group C racing car technical regulations and is powered by a four-rotor rotary engine that produces 700 horsepower. Due to a change in the race regulations, 1991 was to become the last year that a rotary-engine car could participate in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. At the last chance, after 17 years of effort, Mazda finally realized its long-held dream to take the overall victory at Le Mans. This victory was not Mazda’s alone, but the result of long years of hard work by Mazdaspeed, the drivers, suppliers and the many others involved.

 

Takashi Yamanouchi, Mazda’s representative director, chairman of the board, president and CEO, said, “Mazda is founded on a desire to ‘never stop challenging.’ This spirit brings Mazda Group employees together across the globe, and it inspires us to achieve the demanding goals we set ourselves. Exactly 50 years ago, in 1961, Mazda commenced development of the rotary engine. The road from this beginning until our 1991 victory at Le Mans, and on to our current SKYACTIV TECHNOLOGY development program, is built upon our spirit of challenge. 2011 is set to be another landmark year for the entire Mazda Group, as we enter our SKYACTIV era with the global introduction of our next-generation vehicles.”

 

Since 1991, the winning Mazda 787B has mostly been on display at the Mazda Museum in Hiroshima, Japan. In preparation for the demonstration at Le Mans, Mazda has carefully restored the winning 787B racecar back to driving condition for the first time since its post-race overhaul in 1991. The work was carried out by current Mazda employees who participated in the company’s original Le Mans Challenge Project, along with engineers from Mazda’s subsidiary engineering company Mazda E&T. The restored 787B has been tested by one of Mazda’s in-house top gun drivers, and its performance has been confirmed by former Mazda factory drivers Yoshimi Katayama, Takashi Yorino and Yojiro Terada at Mazda’s Mine Proving Ground in western Japan.

 

As part of the 20th anniversary celebrations, various members of the 1991 Mazda team will also return to Le Mans. The winning driver Johnny Herbert (England) will be joined by 1991 Mazda drivers David Kennedy (Ireland), Pierre Dieudonné (Belgium) and other team members.

 

Video footage and photographs of the restoration work and the demonstration at Le Mans will be uploaded on Mazda’s official Facebook and YouTube web pages.

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