The 787B Wasn’t Actually Fast – How Mazda’s Le Mans Win Became Motorsport Myth

January 21, 2026

• While the article extensively covers Mazda’s 1991 Le Mans victory with the 787B, it mentions only one female driver: Desiré Wilson, who was part of an all-female lineup alongside Lyn St James and Cathy Muller in a Spice SE90. This AO Racing entry represented a rare moment of women’s participation in what was otherwise a male-dominated field of 46 cars at the 1991 race.
• The piece thoroughly debunks several myths about the 787B – that it was banned for being too fast, that it was an underdog victory, or that it was the fastest car in the field. In reality, Mercedes’ C11 was demonstrably quicker but suffered reliability issues, while Mazda benefited from a crucial weight exemption that other C2 class cars didn’t receive.
• The author traces Mazda’s decades-long Le Mans journey from 1970 through political upheaval in Group C regulations, revealing how regulatory changes and manufacturer politics created the perfect storm for Mazda’s historic but circumstantial victory. The 787B’s lasting fame comes more from Gran Turismo video game exposure and rotary engine enthusiasm than actual on-track dominance.

24 hours of le mans, group c, rotary engine, sportscar world championship