Mazda 787B onboard lap with Johnny Herbert at Le Mans 2011

On Saturday, as a warm-up to the race, Johnny Herbert (UK) returned for the first time to the wheel of his winning car for two laps of pure emotion.

[@Mrdayz]

I was there in 1991. In the middle of the night, there were two distinct and very different sounds. The Sauber Mercedes, 5 Litre, twin turbo, thundering away in the lead, a silver flash, glowing brake discs and it was gone for another lap. As the sound subsided, there was another sound in the distance, a high pitch scream the rotary in pursuit... eventually the Sauber faltered. Great memories

[@mazder_2709]

Thanks!

[@fantasmadevaliente1318]

Ill pour biofuel all over a 767 and give the tires to african children

[@fantasmadevaliente1318]

Ill ram you with a toyota minolta

[@fantasmadevaliente1318]

ill set your rims on fire

[@Mrdayz]

I shall put Stilton cheese in your driving suit and weld the zipper shut

[@SearchEast2069]

This car....this fucking car terrorized me in Gran Turismo 3 when I was a kid. I never beat it, but I can draw you a detailed sketch of what the back looks like...I have that shit ingrained into my memory.

[@samwiseel9378]

Antwon Jenkins lol old chap, i was playing with the 787B getting terrorized by that red Toyota with the insane top speed

[@williepayt01]

Antwon Jenkins LMFAO YESSS!!!!! That car was a brute!! All I ever saw was the rear end until I finally got it.

[@williepayt01]

Samwise El Lol yeah! The GT something.... That car used to infuriate me once I got the 787B because I would never see it in a race till then. Only time I would ever even HEAR it was the turbo blow off on each shift on the start of each race. Man that brings back memories.

[@Joeyottie92]

Antwon Jenkins Haha I ended up owning all them cars Nissan lm Toyota gt one and the 787b. Racing Monaco endurance race for 3 hours straight then crashing in the last lap and losing first place.

[@MegaDarklee]

+Will P. Toyota Gt one Haha

[@re20bt]

The sound of the 787B literally brings tears to the eyes. There’s just nothing else like it. Phenomenal.

[@sorryimajerk735]

ferrari f40 lm sounds better and it has pistons and a cavalino rampante on the hood

[@2whl4re]

You could literally leave the word 'literally' out of literally every sentence you write, and it literally wouldn't change the meaning. Try it.

[@urmother1212]

@@2whl4re literally i don't know who asked

[@williamheinsinger7390]

😍

[@shalindelta7]

@2whl4re " i had him crying till the morning ". So tell me, is that a phrase or a fact ? Only the word "literally" would have made you not have to guess.

[@Glenn7719]

20 years later jumping back in the same motor you drove all them years ago and getting to go round the same course. Fucking awesome, imagine doing that.

[@deleted9263]

The engine was rebuilt, but same type. R26B. That thing was a savage

[@czsup8967]

I can’t imagine the feeling.

[@rhyswilliams4893]

A lot less tired driving it for a few laps than during the 24.

[@hugocorreia8039]

Almost the same course

[@slevingaius]

I recently watched a documentary about the 787b. Is this the driver that didn't make it to the podium after the chequered flag because of driving an extra stint and was nursing an injury?

[@DBZxFinalxTenkaichix]

Anyone else nominate this car as the most powerful sounding and best sounding car in existence?

[@Monty-sd6tc]

F1 gtr...

[@kierenboimufc5940]

Noooooooo Lola Judd t92 will smash this

[@mannys4539]

yes

[@flamingguy21]

Ferrari 412 T2 and Williams FW26?

[@zekkai1005]

@@Monty-sd6tc Sauber C9 is diabolic

[@DeadorDelsol]

脱水症状になりながらも、最後まで走り続けてくれたジョニーのおかげで ロータリー最終年(後に復活)にルマン優勝することができた。 ジョニーは我々のスーパーヒーロー！！！

[@user-nc9sn2bk9k]

787の55号の映像は数多くありますが、 やっぱりこれがダントツ良い。 令和5年、 2023年11月1日も楽しんでいます。

[@PC-lv8dq]

Johnny seems so relaxed behind the wheel, like he's chatting at the bar with an old friend.

[@thethirdman225]

Trust me, that car is hard to drive.

[@GSXR750power]

The difference between you and a pilote

[@GrantMerle]

'tis an old friend :)

[@kasugakyosuke6441]

@@thethirdman225 Why you had the chance to drive it ? 😏😂🤣

[@thethirdman225]

@@kasugakyosuke6441 Of course not. Have you read the reviews by the people who _did_ drive it? The late Belgian journalist Paul Frere, said the steering was very heavy and the car suffered from terminal understeer. When Johnny Herbert finished the 24 Hours at Le Mans, he was so exhausted that he had to be carried from the car and did not attend the victory celebrations with co-drivers, Volker Weidler and Bertrand Gachot.

[@Hinjima92]

Those downshifts at 1:56 are probably the best downshifts I have ever heard in my entire life... Man that takes some skill!

[@andrewhooker8798]

Yeah for sure. Skill and stamina needed.....and balls. But even great drivers screw up. Herbert gets off the clutch a little to soon around 3:40. If you listen closely you can hear it scrape for a second.

[@blackbirdgaming8147]

Andrew Hooker To be fair, he hadn’t driven the car in a long time.

[@emanuelesias4056]

Mr. Johnny Herbert ladies and gentlemen.

[@mala7794]

WUUPUP PUP WUUUPUPUP (pop crackle)

[@Aditya-sc6wu]

Agreed😍😍

[@kotabinz69]

787Bは国宝です。

[@Lworld63]

0:53 gives me goosebumps every time I hear it.

[@TGUNNER777]

Same here. Goooood Lord that’s amazing!

[@shafiqzhakee]

I cried a little.

[@kerssed]

imagine if it kept going higher forever

[@hughsyson1509]

Oh yes, me too!!!

[@WaveMaster1406]

Me too

[@rodolfosfcsantos]

that clutch delay, oh god that is music for my ears

[@MihzvolWuriar]

For me, this is the most iconic race car ever, once a year, I pop in here to hear this masterpiece of a car, I guess it was this car that made me an absolute Mazda fan.

[@flyingphoenix113]

Am I the only one who would rather have roatary engines in 2014 for F1 rather than turbo V6's?

[@user-tj2pt9wj1z]

Sound would be interesting, and it might make reliability even more of an important factor.

[@scottsmith3257]

It would be so much better. The new cars sound like blenders or something, and are way too quiet. Plus with rotaries you could get the same or maybe more power out of a smaller lighter engine which would make for even faster cars.

[@strattonhibbs863]

could you guys imagine a 25,000 plus rpm redline on a formula one rotary motor..... Music to my ears.....

[@user-fl4fi3xe7z]

Mazda Rotary engine

[@deggis4]

Strider Sky No, it wasn't banned. This myth is simply bullshit. The regulations changes (that also made obsolete all cars built to the pre-1992 regulations, funny how you who believe in this myth never mention this) for 1992 season had nothing to do with Mazda or their win the previous year, especially since they were set in stone at least full year before they even won. I don't care how good wankel is in theory, but fact is that outside of 1991 Le Mans Mazda never even finished on the podium despite using wankel engines for several years and full seasons in the World Sportscar Championship. In 1991, it finished fifth in the Championship behind, Jaguar, Peugeot, Mercedes and Spice-Cosworth.

[@soyxpanda]

How do you drive this car with out a throbbing errection

[@topgearownz]

soyxpanda I'm not sure you can.

[@snevarez31]

they got a seperate harness for that

[@PolarArctica]

+Iam MTS Chapter 4 of "Driving a 787b" says: "During your race with this vehicle, you may experience an intense erection lasting throughout your entire drive. In order to not become distracted by your massive erection, you must play with yourself when not shifting gears."

[@Juniper458]

Dunkaccino25 at least it's easier since the gear stick is on the right!

[@LordDonutz]

As a woman.

[@MDX484]

30 years by now of this awesome victory , 10 years from this very video and still gives me unbelievable emotions. Best sounding engines ever.

[@dronetrucker]

Glad I'm not the only one getting emotional over engine sounds lol

[@haac4825]

Beautiful engine noise. What a precision roar and high pitch of perfection.

[@MrHatoyama38]

787Bの音は芸術と言ってもいいくらい最高♪

[@Alusttt93]

ʏᴇs. ᴊᴀᴘᴀɴᴇsᴇ ᴀʀᴛ

[@hirtac6819]

音が物語る♪ 日本が誇れる最高傑作！ ロータリーエンジン♪

[@user-rv9qy9xe7l]

天使の絶叫 狼が吠える様だった(当時の欧州メディア？) エンジンがねえ、鳴く様な音なんですよ(ミスタール・マン。寺田陽二郎) ミュージックですね(松浦ル・マンエンジン担当。ロータリー47士の一人) 色々ありますが、最高っすわ。

[@lamattitude]

That gear change @1:35 just coming out of Tertre Rouge and onto the Mulsanne Straight went all the way through, right down to my soul .

[@LokyMusik]

watch?v=QtUEPwHnxmU

[@marcryvon]

Agreed Georgi!

[@James-cr8mt]

the little flutter in engine pitch as it settles into gear tickles my spine

[@TheTripol]

As the saying goes.. powered by 4 spinning doritos, fueled by mountain dew :)

[@ruzgarakgul2051]

TheTripol 7MLG7B

[@scottgolden2766]

TheTripol is the car being painted orange and green part of the joke?

[@white_mage]

made my day

[@s70driver2005]

Immortal dorito powered jesus.

[@AdotLOM]

What a gamer

[@rrseatassy]

やっぱりいい音だよなぁ… この突き抜けるような音…最高としか出てこないや

[@nickbentley8760]

I only just found out that Johnny was in too much pain to get to the podium when he won in 1991, Really great that he eventually got the chance to launch himself onto that top step.

[@kasugakyosuke6441]

He literally almost died, they extracted him from the winning car, and sent him straight to the hospital.

[@marks7197]

Not pain, he was dehydrated because he had the shits.

[@paulgoode5245]

Done so well after breaking both legs,local lad too us❤

[@NASCAR_Diecast_Addict]

I was only 3 years old in 1991, this car was my favorite to listen to and when I played GT3 and GT4 I would rev the hell out the car just to hear the engine crackle to life.

[@ilhankac3633]

I can't get enough oft this sound

[@faizanshaikh9178]

The sound just goes into your body and resonates. It's sensational

[@chodjinn1980]

I was there when he did this . . . the only car you can hear the ENTIRE way round the track no matter where you are, epic!

[@laurenmcmillan6819]

Is and always will be the best sounding car ever built

[@tonyvillelli6034]

It sounds great, the 917 sounds like a monster

[@DW98rosy]

that would be the dallara IR-05 with the honda HI10R and HI11R V8s. will say though, this thing"s up there.

[@wratower7409]

If God was a race car, he’d be a 787b

[@hoseinqadam]

Props to the clutch for holding out for that lap.

[@northerngirl13]

This is one of the top 10 best videos ever produced.

[@yamatodreams]

Thank you Johnny. At that time, you couldn't stand on the podium because of dehydration. I'm glad to see you on the podium. Thank you for loving Japan. From JAPAN.

[@ericthomas5670]

Officials had to warn the crowd that this car was coming because it was soo LOUD!❤

[@diecastfromtheshed1036]

A gentleman racer. He was one of my favourites in F1 . That car sounds AWESOME.

[@Mad_Martigen]

Probably my most favorite 787b video on youtube. I love the old H pattern shifting on group C cars a lot more than today's paddle shifting. And one can never forget the angry, monstrous engine sound of the 787b as it roared around Le Sarthe back in its day. It assaulted everyone's eardrums, but in a good way!

[@DylanvdBerg]

this car has a quickshifter, so only up and down not an H

[@tyler_bt3326]

@@DylanvdBerg it’s not a sequential. You literally see him pulling the gear lever back and it staying where he puts it. A sequential would spring back. It’s an H-Pattern shifter, most if not all Group-C cars were in this era

[@W0lf_91]

Iconic car. One of my all time favourites. Johnnie Herbert also a legend; underrated driver.

[@caseymerritt1870]

One of the best moments in racing history. Tiny Mazda wins, and with one of the greatest sounding and looking car ever

[@Kemao_B]

It´s a legend of the tracks, still running for all the race addicts; thank you very much Mazda :-)

[@josch614]

That 787B shall be UNESCO world sound heritage

[@steven7385]

I watch this about once every two or three weeks.

[@alanbagnall4578]

My son and I were lucky enough to talk to Johnny at the British GP a few years back. Such a nice guy, totally giving of his time. It’s hard to marry up that lovely guy with the sort of loony mad enough to drive this beast in the night at 240mph. Massive respect for the car and a totally charming man. Great video!!

[@rikvermar7583]

i know what you mean, seeing him when he was a presenter on Sky F1 he's such a funny, whitty kinda guy always having a laugh and a joke but we forget he was once a F1 driver in the days where balls was just as important as talent so he knows what it takes to get inside beasts like this and drive the nuts off them

[@demo2497]

I can’t stop watching this incredible video. Mazda really shouldve made more of these cars. Phenomenal sounds.

[@thelimitofthedead]

This has to be one of the BEST sounding race cars on the planet! I truly do love the sound of a four rotor.

[@thatsbollox]

Herbert shifting between 1:55 and 2:20. WOW ! The symphony of this thing revving and shifting with a properly great driver is extraordinary.

[@marcryvon]

And the guy is far from his best now. Imagine then !

[@TobyPasman]

Man! That car can howl just like it does in Gran Turismo 4.

[@Kaasoflee13]

Toby Pasman OK I'd 5

[@hendrahendra]

Dont forget the wobbly wiperblade lol.

[@garyw370]

It's the only car I want to use, just to hear its outrageous engine note!

[@ghoulbuster1]

One of the fastest cars too.

[@codyking4848]

The ultimate "getting to relive your good days" moment. Johnny Herbert is a legend. Very cool to see him behind the wheel of the 787B again.

[@Mycupofjoe91]

hes shifting slow becuase he is enjoying this experience in my opinion.

[@KrikkitWarlord]

@Gergő Molnár it is still the dog box, they'll have told him to take it easy on the original transmission as they don't want to break the priceless relic

[@b3delta1]

@@KrikkitWarlord It's synchro'd. The transmission is built for longevity and fuel economy, what you need in an endurance race.

[@KrikkitWarlord]

@@b3delta1 Quite right about synchros - I didn't think anyone would use them even in endurance racing! Nothing to do with fuel economy though...

[@b3delta1]

@@KrikkitWarlord and less strain on the driver. I saw an interview and they mentioned fuel economy because they dont need to rev match as much which uses a small amount of fuel each time when added up over 24 hrs can make a difference

[@johnnyhun1]

@@KrikkitWarlord in endurance races fuel usage is very important -> harder rubber tires and less fuel consumption = less pit stop = more time . This is why diesels took over Le Mand a couple years ago, and now hybrids.

[@010sparta88]

Imagine shifting 5 million times in a race. The dream.

[@marcryvon]

Believe me, you'd be exhausted after after even an hour. Imagine 24 hours !!

[@Andrewlang90]

Seeing this car, and realizing Rob Dahm stuffed the same thing into an FDRX7 is insane. This car is pure sound and sheer speed. What a piece of automotive history.

[@lutzkirschig4329]

and Rob turbocharged it which the 787b isn't. It sounds awesome ^^

[@eric4369]

Rob Dahm has created a fucking monster with his 4 rotor. Crazy to look at this car and think, it needs more power AND more traction. hahaha fuck me.

[@BrattyBiker]

Yes! Although Rob's 4 rotor is turbo-charged, there are a lot of differences actually. The 787B had variable intake geometry and 3 spark plugs per rotor, unlike Rob's 4 rotor build.

[@beefandbarley]

That was beautiful and a little bit scary. Kudos to Herbert and that magnificent machine. 🔥

[@nrandom5506]

This literally brings tears into my eyes, majestic machine

[@heliofaleirosjunior5499]

Music to my ears , hands down the best engine sound on any car ... period !

[@realitywithmj4334]

so cool to see an old man keeping it real

[@TheGtracer1994]

Happy 30th Anniversary 787B

[@ti437]

4ローターR26Bのストック部品をこの晴れ舞台の為に使い切ったそうで、もう本当にこれが最後のワンセットだそうです。自動車文化遺産に指定したいくらいに貴重

[@jefferyscherrer2322]

I'm old, but I loved driving Gran Turismo. The Mazda and Toyota were my favorite cars. My son's never beat my times, and I always won the endurance races, too. We spent years camping, shooting weapons, building bonfires and throwing five gallon buckets of white fuel on the flames. Fireworks throughout the year and eating pizza late at night. We had access to over 200 acres of wooded land an hour south of KC. This video triggered so many excellent memories. Thanks from the bottom of my heart!!

[@discodan2265]

The in car view is a great reminder of just how hard these beasts would be to drive. Just look at the grip on the wheel and how much its fighting. Frickin amazing!

[@isdera1456]

787Bは国宝に指定されてもいいと思う

[@tappajaav]

сука

[@user-sd8wb7hq9h]

これ、おじさんが、つくりました。

[@SIXITHS]

@@user-sd8wb7hq9h Thank your uncle for me, this was surely a great work.

[@crazyapple8455]

本島直樹 ま？

[@dairatekozou]

全く持って同意です！

[@user-eg2zk9my1k]

未だに この車を超えたエンジンサウンドを聞いた事がない。 実際にこの車に会うために遠出して レース場で聞いたけど 全身鳥肌が止まらず 唖然としたのを覚えてる。 実際に 787Bのサウンドを聞きに行った方が良いよ。車好きなら あのエンジンサウンドに 魅力されるはずだよ。

[@jorgedr5835]

That shift at 2:05 is pure bliss

[@lightweightiseverything5068]

That was so great! I have watched it 6 or 7 times now and will watch it every time it comes up in my feed. Great driver driving one of the greatest cars of all time! So relaxing to just watch and listen.

[@stuartwelsford8909]

787B will always be one of my favourite ever race cars. Wasn't fancied at all to even last more than a few hours, but somehow won. Never forget how knackered Johnny looked at the end!

[@duderuud]

My god, that sound sends shivers down my spine! Awesome!

[@user-xk8ke8ls4s]

これは楽器だ

[@user-vj9me5ot3n]

トヨタが連覇した今日であっても、マツダ787Bの偉業と存在価値は決して色褪せることは無い！日本モータースポーツ界の総意として、本車両の永久動態保存を切に願います。そして、サンキュー、ジョニー！

[@king_chip_15]

1:55 the sound of those down shifts....glorious.

[@YootubeUK]

Nice one Johnny! Good to see you've still got it! That thing sounds mega and some fun to drive!

[@CarLoverPhotography]

One of the greatest race cars in history, I’m sad it took me 11 years to see this video.

[@chriseggs3447]

Such a throwback to GT 3 when I dominated the game with this absolute beast

[@corneliuswilliams8317]

If you had this this car in Grand Turismo you won every race. Till this day in GT7 still my favorite car

[@SkeleMusic]

This engine and transmission are so unique sounding, it’s amazing

[@noscopesallowed8128]

I can't decide if this car sounds like an F1 car or if F1 cars sound like this car.

[@MrZane-bl8qm]

Lol, ikr

[@hafeezkhan6181]

Nowdays even a civic sounds better than a f1......

[@RS-nq8xk]

@@hafeezkhan6181 Yeah nothing beats natural aspiration sounds...

[@elbarriodejohnnyherbert5241]

For me the Mazda 787B has better sound that the Ferrari 412 T2 Sorry:My English isn't good Mazda 787B>Ferrari 412 T2

[@elbarriodejohnnyherbert5241]

@@hafeezkhan6181 Civic with a Mclaren-Honda F1 car sound? 😂

[@UncleJoeLITE]

I'm back for another lap! 😂🎉

[@blvk_sky]

That sound is amazing

[@joseanejosi3200]

Gvcl

[@playgt326]

F1 sounds

[@Vacaneu]

@@playgt326 r shit

[@RogueWraith909]

Such an amazing piece of kit! I love the 787b, always have. Reminds me of a time when it more about the mechanics and driver and less about the computers.

[@geofftech]

Every time I watch this I get goosebumps!!!

[@HenrikPflanz]

The mazda 787B is the best sounding automotive engine. You can not change my mind.

[@ACJOSO]

The sound is a symphony. I listen to it everyday. Makes me cry.

[@555586]

もう言葉にできないくらい最高だね！！

[@faruco37]

787Bがもっと、もっと走りたいと言っている・・・

[@SIXITHS]

Yes, and we all want to let it do so.

[@user-ui3kj3ph5b]

@@SIXITHS Fk Regulations !

[@neilgent1595]

What a pairing - both of them are simply sublime.

[@bwest6275]

This era had the most gorgeous vehicles imho

[@sr20det6789]

I had goose bumps from the moment he started all the way till the end. Unbelievable

[@user-gc9gb7pc7u]

1000年前の仏像や絵画がそうであるように、1000年後には国宝に指定されてるんだろうな

[@lukieboy549]

I was there too, helped push car in to garage after park ferme. Chief mechanic gave me my treasured Mazda Speed Hat. Happy days and best sound ever . Well done Mazda and team

[@killergnomestar]

Was there live in 1991. The distinct howl of this car thundering down the mulsanne at night, incredible experience.

[@JamieR1263]

the sound of that 4 rotor made me cry a little bit :')

[@Sam-rf8yh]

IMO, the greatest sounding engine ever.

[@jasonaquino8232]

Holy Balls! This is so insane the 787b in action!!! Woah!

[@ervinmecaydor6004]

Its 2018 and still watching this beutyfull mazda 787b sound

[@Barthoization]

Jeremy Clarckson voice : The Noise !!!!! absolutely beautiful when it's screams along the straights.

[@user-eo3eh2sn2w]

不可能だって分かってる！！ でも、もう一度ルマンにロータリーエンジンが復活することを願ってる

[@user-rv9qy9xe7l]

トヨタがル・マンに必死ですが、トヨタ版e-Power HVにはロータリーを使うみたいなので、マツダにHVや電子制御を全部渡すから離さない！状態ですね！トヨタはHVの代償としてスポーツカー、水素などマツダから貰う…流れでしたが、まさかロータリーを欲してるとは！トヨタ×マツダのル・マンマシン復活あり得ますよ！ハイブリッドに強いですしね！

[@blackoutstrider]

Hearing the full fury of the 4 rotor be unleashed at 1:32 is awe-inspiring.

[@sleutelassistancebernard3702]

Johnny and Mazda, 2 heroes!

[@johnnytopgun6414]

Awwww that's sweet they get him on the podium. Coz he missed stepping up when he won in 91 his teammates got the glory while he rested dehydrated. Or was it the spaghetti?

[@AshGrantASH8]

30 YEARS Ago TODAY!,, Mazda Won Le Mans, wow JH still as smooth as ever after 20 years. Nothing like a Rotary, after close to 50 years myself I still love the very last real rotary ever made my Series II RX-8, still all original and still going strong, still has a 12 year old LA Battery (INOX works). (RX-3 10A, RX-5, RX-7, RX-8)

[@richardsmith9509]

Once a fabulous driver, always a fab driver...FANTASTIC !!!!

[@jjsc976]

Uops ! Qué pureza de sonido! Thanks for sharing ❤❤❤

[@kovlehu]

5 minutes and 41 seconds of “REEE”

[@kanamekuran001]

the best tytle exist , i'm laughed so much hehhehhehh

[@chequebook]

Love it. Amazing car, amazing sound.

[@jesperlehmann4336]

I was at Le mans 2010.. And you quickly learned to notice / hear when the (back then) Pink Mazda were within a mile.. It screamed like nothing else on the track 🤩Le man, is just something every car fan,, should have on his bucket list 📃✔️😉❤️

[@adamcoe]

I 100 percent know nothing of consequence about auto racing but DAMN. This car and the story around it captivated me and I challenge anyone to come up with a cooler sounding car anywhere in existence. Revs higher than an F1 car but growls lower than a Harley Davidson? Fuck yes. A unicorn