• by Tanya Gazdik , August 15, 2013

Mazda will celebrate its racing heritage this weekend at one of the most storied vintage racing events in the world on its home track at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.

As the only Asian car company to ever win the famed 24 Hours of Le Mans, Mazda has a unique heritage in racing. 

From the company's first foray into international motorsport at the 1968 84-hour Marathon de la Route, all the way to today's SKYACTIV-D clean diesel-powered Mazda6 competing in the Grand Am Rolex GX class, the company has always used racing to improve the brand. 

Mazda North American Operations maintains a fleet of heritage Mazda racecars at its Irvine, Calif. headquarters, and will bring three to Monterey this year: A 1990 787 Group C prototype, 1991 RX-7 IMSA GTO and 1992 RX-792P IMSA GTP. 

What is particularly unique about the company's efforts is that all the crew who prepare the cars for competition at the track, as well as perform all ongoing maintenance and repairs between events, are Mazda employees, with much of the work performed on a voluntary basis outside of normal working hours. 

In addition, the drivers are Mazda employees.  Joining the three U.S.-based cars at this year's Reunion will be a 1991 787B, sister car to the Le Mans winner.

"Mazda's involvement in racing is more than just a sticker on a silhouette car that has nothing to do with road technology, and more than just writing a check and walking away," said Jim O'Sullivan, MNAO president and CEO, in a release. "We are fully committed to motorsports.”

This is the automaker's 13th season as partner to Mazda Raceway.