Mazda’s motorsports division released a YouTube video showing how engineers maintain and rebuild the R26B four-rotor engine that powered the 1991 Le Mans-winning 787B.
The R26B reportedly revved to 9,000 rpm and produced roughly 700 horsepower in race trim, using three spark plugs per rotor and rotors similar to Mazda road engines but otherwise bespoke. Mazda says surviving engines hold up well, aided by ceramic apex seals and heavier-duty tension springs that reduce chatter, though replacement parts remain hard to source.
The video also demonstrates technical rebuild checks such as comparing inner housing thickness to the exterior to detect heat-induced shrink and ensure apex seals remain within specification, helping preserve durability for historic 787B cars.
This summary is based on coverage by The Drive.
Read the full article at The Drive.
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