Mazda To Participate In The "Le Mans Into The Future" Event

DARTFORD, UNITED KINGDOM – Jun 2, 2010: Mazda Motor Corporation 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.