Pasta's Livery Warehouse

Le Mans 1970 - Chevron B16 #48

Added 2025-01-13 07:00:02 +0000 UTC

For Legion's Chevron B16 (check post with Le Mans 1970 - #44 for car download link).

The first ever rotary powered car to race at Le Mans. Mazda was busy back at home developing a car capable of beating the ever dominant Skyline GT-R in domestic touring car racing in order to prove the power (and reliability) of rotary engines. While it would be another year until Mazda succeeded back in Japan, they were already busy supporting Belgian Mazda importers with their racing escapades. Firstly in 1968, where two Mazda Cosmo's finished the Marathon De La Route, with some small support from Mazda themselves. In 1970, the goal was to see how the twin rotor 10A would handle the grueling WSC season. Under Levis International Racing Team sponsorship, Julien Vernaeve and Ypres Deprez raced the car at Spa, the Nürburgring and Le Mans, being the first ever to race a rotary engine race car at the French classic.

While they managed to finish well at Spa and the Nords, sadly Le Mans was another story, dropping out with engine issues.