TGR StaffThere are race cars that win, and then there are race cars that become folklore. The Mazda 787B managed both.
Mazda Motorsports has announced that the legendary 1991 24 Hours of Le Mans-winning Mazda 787B will be coming from Japan to headline the 2026 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. For many American fans, it will be the first real chance to stand near the car, see the Renown livery in person, and hear the unmistakable scream of its four-rotor Wankel engine echo through Monterey.
The Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion runs August 12 to 15, 2026, during Monterey Car Week. This year’s event celebrates Japanese motorsport, making the arrival of the 787B feel less like a display and more like a coronation.
The Legend of the Mazda 787B
The Mazda 787B is one of the most important Japanese race cars ever built. In 1991, it became the first Japanese car to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans, a moment that forever changed how the world viewed Mazda, rotary engines, and Japanese endurance racing. Powered by Mazda’s 2.6-liter four-rotor R26B engine, the 787B was not just fast, it was unforgettable. Most race engines make noise. The 787B makes a declaration.
At Laguna Seca, the 787B will serve as the centerpiece of the JDM Mazda Exhibit in the paddock courtyard. Mazda says demonstration laps and live engine fire-ups are planned across all four days of the Reunion, which means the Corkscrew may have to share top billing with the world’s most famous rotary soundtrack. Somewhere, every piston engine in the paddock just got a little nervous.
Mazda’s Monterey lineup will stretch across six decades of racing and rotary history. Alongside the 787B, fans will see the 1967 Cosmo Sport, the car that helped launch Mazda’s rotary legacy, plus the 1989 Mazda 767B-002, the 1990 Mazda 787-002, the 1991 RX-7 GTO, the 1992 RX-792P, and the 2019 Mazda RT24-P prototype. Taken together, the display tells a story few manufacturers can match: one built around stubborn engineering belief, endurance racing ambition, and an engine layout almost nobody else was brave enough to chase.
The driver roster is nearly as impressive as the cars. Tristan Nunez and Tom Long are scheduled to drive the 767B and 787 in Group C competition. Japanese endurance racing legend Yojiro Terada is set to drive the 787B during the Friday and Saturday Japanese Cars Exhibition Sessions. IMSA legend Tommy Kendall will also be part of Mazda’s Monterey presence, appearing alongside his own 1986 and 1987 IMSA GTU Championship-winning Mazda RX-7.
Mazda’s celebration will not stop at the racetrack. Ikuo Maeda, Mazda Executive Fellow of Design and Brand Style, and Brad Audet, Mazda North America Chief Marketing Officer, will serve as guest judges at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance on August 16. Both the Mazda 787 and 787B have also been invited for display on the Pebble Beach main lawn as part of the Japanese Motorsports class.
That final detail matters. The Pebble Beach Concours has long been associated with prewar coachbuilt elegance, European grand touring cars, and blue-chip collector machines. Seeing the 787B on the lawn is another reminder that Japanese motorsport has fully entered the collector-car canon. The 787B is no longer just a wild-sounding endurance racer beloved by rotary faithful and Gran Turismo alumni. It is now recognized as one of the great competition cars of the modern era.
For enthusiasts, the 2026 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion is shaping up to be one of the most important Japanese racing gatherings ever held in the United States. Mazda will not be alone, with the event honoring the broader legacy of Japanese motorsport, but the 787B is likely to be the emotional center of the weekend.
Some cars are best understood by their numbers. The 787B is best understood by standing trackside, feeling the sound hit your chest, and realizing that a small company from Hiroshima once took a very different idea to Le Mans and beat the world.
Tickets for the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion are available through WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. Fans who cannot attend are expected to be able to watch the livestream on the track’s Facebook and YouTube pages.
Quick Facts
- Event: 2026 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion
- Dates: August 12 to 15, 2026
- Location: WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, Monterey, California
- Featured Car: 1991 Mazda 787B
- Why It Matters: The 787B won the 1991 24 Hours of Le Mans and became the first Japanese car to win the race overall.
- Engine: 2.6-liter four-rotor Mazda Wankel engine
- Livery: Renown orange and green
- Mazda Display Includes: 1967 Cosmo Sport, 1989 767B-002, 1990 787-002, 1991 RX-7 GTO, 1992 RX-792P, 2019 RT24-P, and the 1991 787B
- Scheduled Drivers: Yojiro Terada, Tristan Nunez, Tom Long, and Tommy Kendall
- Pebble Beach Appearance: The Mazda 787 and 787B are scheduled for display on the main lawn at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance on August 16, 2026
- Tickets: Available through WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca
FAQ
When is the 2026 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion?
The 2026 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion runs August 12 to 15, 2026, at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, California.
Will the Mazda 787B run at Laguna Seca?
Mazda says the 787B will take part in demonstration laps and live engine fire-ups across all four days of the Reunion.
Why is the Mazda 787B famous?
The Mazda 787B won the 1991 24 Hours of Le Mans, making it the first Japanese car to win the race overall. It is also famous for its four-rotor Wankel engine and unmistakable Renown livery.
What engine does the Mazda 787B use?
The Mazda 787B is powered by a 2.6-liter four-rotor Wankel engine, known as the R26B.
What other Mazda race cars will be at Monterey?
Mazda’s display is expected to include the 1967 Cosmo Sport, 1989 767B-002, 1990 787-002, 1991 RX-7 GTO, 1992 RX-792P, 2019 RT24-P, and the 1991 Le Mans-winning 787B.
Which drivers will be part of Mazda’s 2026 Monterey display?
Mazda has announced Yojiro Terada, Tristan Nunez, Tom Long, and Tommy Kendall as part of its Monterey Motorsports Reunion program.
Will the Mazda 787B be at Pebble Beach?
Yes. Mazda says both the 787 and 787B have been invited for display on the main lawn at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance as part of the Japanese Motorsports class.
Where can fans buy tickets?
Tickets are available through WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. Fans who cannot attend can watch the livestream on the track’s Facebook and YouTube pages.
