Autoblog and Yahoo may earn commission from links in this article.The PrecursorThe story of Mazda's Le Mans program is an interesting one, having been the only major automotive manufacturer to go deep into rotary engines. Through sheer skill, dedication, and passion, the brand was able to produce one of the most iconic race cars ever: the 787B used a rotary race engine that won it the 1991 Le Mans 24 Hours, and is the only car ever powered by that type of engine to conquer the race.Prior to the one and only 787B, there was actually a race car that came before it, a sort of test bed, if you will. The 767B is regarded as the precursor to the 787B, and it was powered by an equally eardrum-shattering 13J 4-Rotor rotary that made a massive 630 hp. This car may not have won Le Mans, but its importance to Mazda's racing heritage is unquantifiable.Fired UpA video posted on Instagram by per.0.xide showed a very tense moment in the paddock during a recent showcase at the famed Laguna Seca Raceway. In the video, it started off by showing some quick B-roll of the iconic 767B resplendent in the Charge orange and green livery. Things quickly take a turn for the worse as the video pans to what shows a garage fire where the 767B was parked.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe car in the video has been identified as car number 203 with chassis 767B-002 (second of three cars) according to a report by Road and Track. Luckily, the poster noted in his caption that while the fire looked like it was raging and in close proximity to the 767B, it was put out by the quick-thinking and acting mechanics. No reports have surfaced as to the exact extent of the damage caused by the fire, but at the very least it didn't burn down completely. What's also uncertain is if the car will be ready to race during this coming weekend's Rolex Motorsports Reunion historic race at Laguna Seca, which is a highlight of the Monterey Car Week festivities.GoodingChristies/YouTubeHeritage MattersThe car underwent a two-year full restoration process before it returned to active classic racing duty back in 2016; since then, it has remained a staple for classic Mazda showcase events. This comes as no surprise because Mazda is still one of the very few major manufacturers that emphasizes the fun of driving as well as being proud of its racing heritage.I've been fortunate enough to have witnessed the Le Mans race cars in action during Mazda Fan Festa, and even more fortunate to have spoken to some people behind the heritage department. Their dedication to preserving and running these classic race cars is admirable, and if there's any team capable of fixing the 767B, it's them.This story was originally published by Autoblog on Aug 11, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Autoblog as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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