Tag Archives: 24 Hours of Le Mans

Toyota GT-One arrives in Gran Turismo 7

Gran Turismo 7‘s latest update packs some serious horsepower. Notably, it marks the return of the Toyota GT-One, among the most beautiful and the most tragic Le Mans racers of the last 25 years. The 780-horsepower monster was a force … Continue reading

Posted in Video Games | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Watch a Toyota 85C Le Mans racer take on a touge road

The Toyota 85C was built for flying down the Mulsanne straight at 180 mph, not for slinging around winding roads in the Japanese mountains. The wild, 500-horsepower prototype is a rolling aero wedge. But there’s something exhilarating in watching a … Continue reading

Posted in motorsport | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Japan Automotive Hall of Fame welcomes Nissan 510 Bluebird, Mitsubishi Pajero, Mazda 787B, and more

The Japan Automotive Hall of Fame has announced the inductees that will honored in its Historic & Heritage Vehicles category. The vehicles chosen have each determined to have contributed to the development of Japan’s automobile industry and car culture, and … Continue reading

Posted in News | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Nissan R90CK that set “the greatest lap at Le Mans” is for sale

At the peak of Group C racing, this Nissan R90CK set what is considered one of the greatest laps in modern racing. At the qualifying session of the 1990 running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, newcomer Mark Blundell … Continue reading

Posted in motorsport | Tagged , , , | 8 Comments

Building a tiny Mazda 787B model in 1/87 scale

The 1991 Mazda 787B needs no introduction. Its iconic orange and green paint scheme is one of the most recognizable liveries ever to grace a Le Mans winner. Due to its historic nature countless models of this car have been … Continue reading

Posted in minicars | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

Toyota 85C back in action at the 2022 Le Mans Classic

Over the weekend the No.36 Toyota 85C raced again at Le Mans after first setting tire to asphalt there in 1985. As Toyota’s first factory entry for the famed 24-hour endurance race, the 85C is a pivotal car for the … Continue reading

Posted in motorsport | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Toyota 85C at Le Mans links father-son racing dynasty

Over the weekend, Toyota won its fifth consecutive victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Just before the race, Le Mans tradition requires that the previous year’s winner bring back their trophy so it can be passed on to … Continue reading

Posted in motorsport | Tagged , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Amazingly detailed Mazda 787B rotary engine model released for 30th anniversary of Le Mans win

This year marked the 30th anniversary of Mazda’s historic win at the 1991 24 Hours of Le Mans. To commemorate the 787B race car’s victory, Mazda aftermarket parts company MZ Racing has developed a highly detailed 1:6 scale model of … Continue reading

Posted in minicars | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

There’s now a Mazda 787B easter egg in the Mazda 2

It’s kind of a shame Americans don’t buy small, zippy hatchbacks anymore because the Mazda 2 by all accounts is an affordable car that is still pretty fun to drive. Even if it hadn’t been discontinued already, it was offered … Continue reading

Posted in News | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

Kunio Matsuura, Mr. Rotary Racing, led Mazda motorsports for 27 years to its 1991 Le Mans victory

Today marks the 30th anniversary of Mazda’s historic win at Le Mans with the iconic rotary-powered 787B. We have explored Mazda’s journey in this and other endurance racing events over the years, yet were only scratching the surface. The people … Continue reading

Posted in motorsport | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

VIDEO: A virtual tour of Toyota’s Motorsports Biography exhibit

The Toyota Automobile Museum’s excellent “Toyota Motorsport Biography: Everlasting Challenge Spirit” exhibit is scheduled to end on April 11. Sadly, travel restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic have prevented most overseas travelers from seeing it in person. However, the museum … Continue reading

Posted in museums | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Restoration of the Mazda 737C Le Mans race car has begun

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Mazda 787B’s historic win at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. To commemorate the occasion one of its predecessors, the 1985 737C, is undergoing restoration. Last week in Hiroshima, technicians began disassembling … Continue reading

Posted in motorsport | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

100 YEAR CLUB: Mazda, Part 03

Among automotive journalists, including many of us here at JNC, Mazda has long occupied a special place in our hearts. To this day, their cars just tick for us. Why? As we near the end of the year that marks … Continue reading

Posted in 100 Year Club | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

The Toyota Automobile Museum has opened a “Motorsport Biography” exhibit

“A harsh environment of competition toughens our people and cars,” said Toyota Motor founder Kiichiro Toyoda once said. It’s a quote framing the Toyota Automobile Museum in Aichi, Japan’s newly opened an exhibit highlighting some of the company’s historic race … Continue reading

Posted in Galleries | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Toyota sees the new Z and would like to remind you about the GR Super Sport

You might have heard that over the weekend, Toyota won the 24 Hours of Le Mans for the third time in a row. It’s a tremendous feat, even if it ran largely unopposed by any other automaker. Toyota also took … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

VIDEO: Mazda racing liveries, animated

Mazda UK has released a new video called “Our Greatest Motorsport Liveries” to honor its 100th Anniversary.  The short animated movie goes through several of the company’s famous racing colorways, varying from the Group B RX-7 to the renowned (ha!) … Continue reading

Posted in motorsport | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

100 YEAR CLUB: Mazda, Part 01

Exactly 100 years ago today, on January 30, 1920, Toyo Cork Kogyo was founded. This company, whose name translates to Oriental Cork Industries, would go on to build cars under the name Mazda. Thus, today marks the 100th anniversary of … Continue reading

Posted in 100 Year Club | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

Mazda 4-rotor vs Toyota V10: Which race car sounds better?

At Toyota’s recent Gazoo Racing Festival, fans got the rare opportunity to see — and hear — two vastly different top-level prototype race cars roaring side by side. Both the Mazda 787B’s quad-rotor and the Toyota TS010’s 3.5-liter V10 hailed … Continue reading

Posted in motorsport | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

NEWS: Rotary engine may race again at Le Mans

Rotaries are returning to Le Mans, at least in the rule books. According to the most recent technical regulations for the Le Mans Hypercar category approved and released by the FIA World Motor Sport Council, rotary engines may power the machines in … Continue reading

Posted in motorsport | Tagged , , , , , | 9 Comments

JNC THEATER: Shelby American

Ford v. Ferrari might be the biggest car movie out right now, but there’s an even better one currently playing on Netflix — and it’s non-fiction. Shelby American is the latest release by Chassy Media, the production company of Adam … Continue reading

Posted in JNC Theater | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments