A Mazda 767B was involved in a dramatic fire at Laguna Seca this weekend, according to a video shared on Instagram by Per.0.xide. The footage shows No. 203 parked under a tent while a crew rushes to its aid with fire extinguishers.
UPDATE: 8/10 2:00 pm ET: An earlier version of this story stated that the car involved in the fire was car No. 202. Now that more information is available, we’ve corrected it to reflect that it’s No. 203, and not a car belonging to Mazda’s Heritage Collection. Furthermore, it has been clarified that the car will not participate in this week’s track activities.
It’s unclear what triggered the fire, though it appears the car had already been driven on the track earlier in the day, leading me to believe it may be related to an oil or gas spill combined with extreme temperatures under the engine cover. This specific car is part of the Ghost Riders Squad and is often seen at tracks across the country, meaning that it’s far from a garage queen. The Drive reached out to Mazda for more information, and a spokesperson said they are looking into it and will issue a statement when ready. The team, however, issued the following statement:
“During yesterday’s Monterey Motorsports Pre-Reunion event, Mazda 767B #203 was involved in a paddock fire. Most importantly, no one was injured – for that, we are deeply grateful. The car is special to every member of our team, and to history. It will not complete the remainder of the Reunion event, but its story is not over. #203 will be restored once more, and sing again.”
The Mazda 767B and its more famous sibling, the Le Mans-winning 787B, are iconic cars not just for their racing pedigree and bright liveries, but primarily for the amazing, high-pitched sound produced by their 13J and R26B Wankel rotary engines, which rev to 9,000 rpm. Both of these will be present this week at the Rolex Motorsports Reunion in Laguna Seca, but sadly, car 203 will not partake in the activities for the remainder of the week. The statement did not confirm the full extent of the fire damage, but it clearly isn’t insignificant.
While the video above ends before the fire is extinguished, some commenters claim it was quickly put out and the car was not completely destroyed.
Stay tuned for more details.
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