Mazda to participate in the “Le Mans into the Future”

Mazda is returning to this year’s 24 Hour of Le Mans, which it won in 1991 in the first and only rotary-engine race car, with another revolutionary vehicle. The Mazda RX-8 Hydrogen RE sports coupe will be on hand as a demonstration vehicle in the “Le Mans vers le future” (Le Mans into the Future) event.

In a nod to its memorable victory in 1991, the driver of the RX-8 will be Yojiro Terada, a veteran pilot who has participated in 29 endurance races at Le Mans, including 16 with Mazda, and of course as a member of the official team that took the podium 19 years ago.

The “Le Mans into the Future” event is a first for the race, and will present several vehicles using alternative powertrains (electric, hybrid, natural gas or hydrogen fuel). The Mazda coupe RX-8 Hydrogen RE is fitted with a dual-fuel (petrol/hydrogen) rotary engine that is especially efficient at burning zero-emissions hydrogen. It is currently available for lease in Japan and Norway.

The demonstration of the Mazda RX-8 Hydrogen RE is scheduled for Saturday, 12 June, at 12h10. Starting at 12h30 the cars will be exhibited to the public in Paddock H, opposite the Village.