Fire Erupts Under Tent at Monterey Event

A rare Mazda 767B race car burst into flames in the paddock of WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca during the Monterey Car Week festivities. The vehicle was stationary and parked under a tent when the fire started. Video posted to Instagram shows dramatic images, but eyewitness reports indicate the flames were extinguished quickly, limiting the damage.

No injuries occurred, and the car was privately owned — chassis number 003, according to Flis Performance, which builds Mazda MX-5 Cup cars. The same chassis last changed hands at auction in 2017 for $1.75 million. Mazda Motorsports confirmed the incident did not involve a vehicle from its heritage collection and expressed gratitude that everyone was safe.

The 767B’s Place in Mazda’s Racing Legacy

The 767B is a sister to the more famous 787B, the rotary-engined prototype that won the 24 Hours of Le Mans outright in 1991 — the first Japanese manufacturer to achieve that feat. This particular 767B was built for endurance racing and remains a highly significant piece of Mazda’s motorsport history. While the extent of the fire damage is still being evaluated, its substantial auction value and provenance make a full restoration almost certain.

The incident did not disrupt Monterey Car Week’s planned rotary celebrations. Mazda had already brought the original 787B from Japan for the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion and the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, where a Japanese Motorsports class featured both the 767B and 787B from the factory collection. The owner’s commitment to restoring the car, with Mazda’s pledged support, ensures this piece of racing heritage will return to the track.