Collection Le Mans - Box 8 - Mazda 787B & Jaguar XJR12

Le Mans - Mazda 787B - 1991

Every success at Le Mans is in itself a page of history, but that of the Mazda 787B in 1991 has at least two reasons to be considered a milestone: it is the first by a Japanese manufacturer on the circuit at la Sarthe and it marks the biggest breakthrough for the Wankel rotary engine.

Almost unexpected Mazda's success came after years of attempts thanks to refined technology and a little help from the regulations. The same regulations that, from 1992, would outlaw the Wankel engine.

Scale: 1:43

Le Mans -Jaguar XJR12 - 1990

After five historic victories, three of them consecutive, between 1951 and 1957, it took Jaguar 31 years to return to the top step of the podium at the Le Mans 24 Hours.

Thanks to the reliability of its naturally aspirated V12, and the absence of the Sauber-Mercedes team and the technical problems of Nissan and Porsche, the Jaguar TWR team took first and second place at the 1990 Le Mans 24 Hours, repeating the success of the XJR9 two years earlier with a car that was a direct evolution of it.

Scale: 1:43

TECHNICAL SHEET

Mazda 787B

ENGINE: Mazda R26B 2,616 cc, 4-rotor, rear mid-mounted longitudinal, two lights and three spark plugs per rotor, electronic fuel injection, liquid cooled, max power 710 hp at 9,000 rpm, max torque 608 Nm at 6,500 rpm.

TRANSMISSION: Rear-wheel drive, 5-speed Mazda-Porsche manual gearbox + RM.

CHASSIS: Carbon fibre monocoque.

SUSPENSION: Front and rear double wishbones with coil springs and separately mounted telescopic dampers.

BRAKES: Brembo carboceramic ventilated discs.

WHEELS: 18" wheels, Dunlop tyres front 300/640-18 and rear 355/710-18.

DIMENSIONS: Length 4,782 mm, width 1,994 mm, height 1,003 mm. Wheelbase: 2,660 mm. Weight: 830 kg, fuel tank capacity 100 litres.

Jaguar XJR12

ENGINE: Jaguar 6,995 cc, 12-cylinder 60° V, rear mid-mounted longitudinal, single overhead camshaft timing system with 2 valves per cylinder, Bosch-Zytek multipoint electronic fuel injection, liquid cooled, dry sump lubrication, max power 740 bhp at 7,000 rpm, max torque 785 Nm at 5,500 rpm.

TRANSMISSION: Rear-wheel drive, 5-speed March/TWR manual gearbox + RM.

CHASSIS: Kevlar and carbon fibre monocoque, composite bodywork.

SUSPENSION: Front and rear push-rod double wishbones with separately mounted shock absorbers and coil springs. Rear titanium shock absorbers, magnesium mounts.

BRAKES: Ventilated carboceramic disc with AP Racing calipers.

WHEELS: Goodyear tyres.

DIMENSIONS: Length 4,800 mm, width 2,000 mm, height 1,010 mm. Wheelbase: 2,780 mm. Weight: 900 kg, fuel tank capacity n.d.