1991 Mazda 787B
As racing enthusiasts look ahead to today's 24 Hours of Le Mans, many will remember an outcome that made history 25 years ago. On 23 June 1991 at around 4pm, the chequered flag waved through the winner of that year’s event. It was car number 55, with its flashy orange and green exterior and the unmistakable scream of its four-rotor engine. Some 21 hours into the race, after a long battle with the favoured Mercedes and Jaguars, the Mazda 787B took the lead for the first time. It was a position the outsider would not surrender. Three hours later, against all expectations, Johnny Herbert guided the Mazda triumphantly across the finish line in front of 250,000 spectators. Photos courtesy of Luke Munnell © 2011 and Mazda.