1991 Le Mans winning Mazda 787B guest stars in 2011 with Johnny Herbert and Patrick Dempsey

HIROSHIMA, Japan—20 years after winning the world's most demanding 24-hour endurance race, the No. 55 Mazda 787B car returned as a guest star for Le Mans 2011. Twice driven in demonstration laps around the legendary Circuit de la Sarthe on Thursday, June 9 and Saturday 11, it thrilled the huge Le Mans crowds with a revival of the unforgettable sound of its 4-rotor engine. This fully-restored unique original also opened the drivers' parade around the Le Mans city center on Friday, June 10.

 "It is a wonderful opportunity to be here in Le Mans again this year. It's really my first time in this car and it has lots of personality. I tried to start a relationship with it in two laps!" says Patrick Dempsey, the actor and Mazda RX-8 racer and team owner in the Grand-AM series in the USA. Dempsey was the first to drive the 787B on Thursday, before joining the drivers' parade on Friday to the delight of the excited onlookers. He also participated in Mazda's press conference together with Seita Kanai, Mazda's director and executive vice president, and many of the 1991 winning team members and drivers, as well as Jean-Claude Plassart, the president of the Automobile Club de L'Ouest (ACO, the Le Mans organizer).

 At the drivers' parade, 170,000 astonished spectators watched the 700 horsepower racer tear around the streets of Le Mans at the hands of Yojiro Terada (Japan) and David Kennedy (Ireland), both long time Mazda racing drivers at Le Mans. The parade continued with Patrick Dempsey and Seita Kanai accompanied by Pierre Dieudonné (Belgium) and many others.

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. After piloting the 787B first across the finish line in 1991, he was unable to join his team co-drivers on the podium due to faintness from dehydration. This year however, after comically re-enacting his faint, he was invited to finally step onto the Le Mans podium and celebrate his victory and Mazda's victory; the first and only Japanese car manufacturer to win the 24 hours of Le Mans.

 Seita Kanai, executive vice president of Mazda Motor Corporation, says, "It is amazing to see that so many motorsport fans still remember Mazda's victory at the 24 hours of Le Mans 20 years ago and are still so enthusiastic. Our victory was a story of pure commitment and passion from our engineers and the entire team. This same spirit thrives today with the development of our breakthrough SKYACTIV TECHNOLOGY for the next generation of Mazda cars."

New Car Inventory

Russell & Smith Mazda offers you competitive pricing combined with outstanding service and respectful sales. At Russell & Smith Mazda we do what it takes to make sure you get the vehicle you want on your terms. Come on in and see what all the excitement is about. Click, Call or Come in for a no-hassle test drive. At Russell & Smith Mazda we treat you with the respect you deserve. http://russellsmithmazda.com/new/cars/Houston-TX

The Vision of Mazda

Mazda has developed its business by providing "Zoom-Zoom" cars that are fun to drive. To continue achieving this "Zoom-Zoom" feeling, we see it as our mission to build cars that also provide high levels of environmental and safety performance.

In March 2007, we introduced the "Sustainable Zoom-Zoom" plan, which outlines our long-term vision for technology development. The plan stresses our ongoing devotion to harmonize driving performance with safety and the environment in building vehicles that look inviting to drive, are fun to drive, and make you want to drive them again.

The heart of the Sustainable Zoom-Zoom plan is our utterly unique and groundbreaking next-generation SKYACTIV TECHNOLOGY. To coincide with the development of these breakthrough powertrains and platforms, Mazda will also be renewing everything from planning and production processes to sales and marketing methods. We are embracing our breakthrough spirit to bring about innovations in all business areas.

We are moving forward with the same challenging sprit that has made Mazda the world leader in rotary engines. We will uphold our group unity as "One Mazda" as we aim to meet our responsibilities to ongoing changes in society and be a company that is trusted and appreciated by all our stakeholders throughout the world.

I greatly appreciate your continuing encouragement and support for us.

Mazda established a new corporate vision in December 1999, comprised of three elements:

To create new value, excite and delight our customers through the best automotive products and services.

With passion, pride and speed, we actively communicate with our customers to deliver insightful automotive products and services that exceed their expectations.

We value integrity, customer focus, creativity, and efficient and nimble actions and respect highly motivated people and team spirit. We positively support environmental matters, safety and society.
Guided by these values, we provide superior rewards to all people associated with Mazda.

5-Star Review on Yahoo

"Excellent....everyone in my opinion is friendly and non-judgemental"-John

Check out this great review on Yahoo Local by clicking the link! http://bit.ly/mkpLnV

Service Special Coupon

Follow us on Facebook to take advantage of this great service special coupon! https://www.facebook.com/RussellSmithMazda

Service Special Coupon

Follow us on Facebook to take advantage of this great service special coupon! https://www.facebook.com/RussellSmithMazda

Fantastic 5 star Review on Dealer Rater!

"Of course I am very happy with this car dealership because I would not have purchased a vehicle if I weren't. To me, half the deal for a new car is the attitude of the sales team. Gilton (my salesman) was so friendly, and made the whole experience, especially for a woman, a very pleasant one. They were willing to listen to my needs and negotiated a deal for me that was fair to both of us and I respect that in a car dealership. Although I was there for six hours, in the end, I feel driving home with my new Mazda3 was well worth the time spent. I totally recommend them to anyone, especially a female, who wants a good deal and a sales team that works hard to keep your business. I will go back to them in a few years when I'm ready to trade in.... definately a repeat customer. 

I'd like to suggest that if a customer is at the dealership for more than a couple of hours, perhaps they should offer drinks or snacks." - http://bit.ly/9gwaPE