The Mazda 787B is a Group C sports prototype developed by Mazda and campaigned by the Mazdaspeed Co. Ltd. factory team. On 23 June 1991, car number 55 crossed the finish line first at the Circuit de la Sarthe, securing the only outright Le Mans victory ever recorded by a Japanese manufacturer and the only one achieved by a rotary-engined car.
The 787B and Its Four-Rotor Rotary Engine
At the heart of the 787B sat the R26B, a naturally aspirated four-rotor Wankel rotary engine. Where every other Le Mans winner has relied on a conventional reciprocating engine, the R26B's spinning rotors gave the car its distinctive, high-revving soundtrack and a power delivery unlike anything else on the Mulsanne. The R26B remains the only rotary engine ever to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans outright.
Three Drivers, One Historic Night: Le Mans 1991
Bertrand Gachot, Johnny Herbert and Volker Weidler shared the wheel of the No. 55 entry across the full 24 hours. All three had Formula 1 careers running in parallel, lending the drive an unusually high level of single-seater experience. The car ran in the Renown livery — a bold combination of orange, green and silver commissioned by the Japanese clothing brand Renown — making it one of the most recognisable colour schemes in endurance racing history.
The Werk83 1:18 Scale Model in Die-Cast Metal
Werk83 produces this 1:18 scale model car in die-cast metal, a format suited to capturing the low, wide proportions of the Group C prototype. The Renown livery — with its orange bodywork, green accents and silver detailing — is applied across the model's bodywork, replicating the visual identity that made the real car so immediately identifiable on circuit and in period photography. Werk83 has established a reputation for accurate, highly detailed 1:18 die-cast motorsport models, and the 787B No. 55 is among their most significant subjects.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Mazda 787B No. 55 famous for?
Car No. 55 won the 1991 24 Hours of Le Mans outright. It was the first win for a Japanese manufacturer at Le Mans and remains the only outright victory by a rotary-engined car.
Who drove the No. 55 Mazda 787B at Le Mans in 1991?
Bertrand Gachot, Johnny Herbert and Volker Weidler shared the car across the 24 hours. All three drivers also competed in Formula 1.
What is the Renown livery?
The Renown livery is the orange, green and silver colour scheme worn by the Mazdaspeed factory entry. It was sponsored by Renown, a Japanese clothing brand, and became one of the most recognisable Le Mans winner liveries.
What material is the Werk83 model made from?
The Werk83 787B is made from die-cast metal at 1:18 scale.
