At the 1984 24 Hours of Le Mans, far behind the Porche 956 driven by winners Henri Pescarolo and Klaus Ludwig, a "modest" Lola T616 powered by Mazda won in the C2 class (similar to current LM P2). John Morton, John O'Steen and Japanese driver Hoshami Katayama gave Mazda a first win at Le Mans. A second car finished third (with Jim Busby, Rick Knoop and Boy Hayje). The two Lolas were entered by the B.F. Goodrich Company, the American tyre manufacturer! The cars were the sole equipped with that manufacturer's tyres, and had to go up against stronger, more experienced competitors. It was a real David and Goliath, in true 24 Hours of Le Mans spirit. The entry served as a showcase to promote a road radial tyre. This advertising effort had already been done in 1982, B.F. Goodrich having entered a Porsche 924 Carrera GTR which won in the IMSA GTO class with French driver Marcel Mignot at the wheel.

That success at the 24 Hours of Le Mans was no fluke! At Monza, Jim Busby and Rick Knoop had already won in the C2 class. After the 24 Hours of Le Mans, two second place finishes are to be noted, at the Nürburgring and at Fuji. It was a first wave of success for Mazda as an engine supplier, seven years before the overall win at Le Mans. 

Sold and entered in various championships until the beginning of the 1990s, the two Lola T616s were then set aside. Jim Busby and Rick Knoop, two drivers who participated in the 1984 24 Hours of Le Mans, decided to buy and restore them. Since 2004, they have taken part in many gatherings like the Goodwood Festival of Speed, the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion and the Laguna Seca Pre-Reunion. The two cars are up for sale with Canepa, a vintage car specialist in California. Check out the #67 Lola T616 and the #68 Lola T616.

Les presentamos al famoso Mazda Lola T616 de 1984.#ZoomZoom retro!! @MazdaCoatza pic.twitter.com/lxiWYFunyQ

— Mazda Coatzacoalcos (@MazdaCoatza) December 2, 2014