IndiaAIFounders — The Mazda Fan Festa shows exactly why Mazda has such a loyal following

Whenever people tell me I have the coolest job in the world, my standard response is that it’s not always what it seems. But that’s not something I’d say today.

At this moment, my ears are shattered, but my heart is full—and so are my lungs, filled with the fumes spewed out by the #55 Mazda 787B right in front of me in one of Fuji Speedway’s pit garages.

The four-minute engine warmup is a literal assault on the senses. The infamous R26B rotary engine lets out a violent mechanical snort as it comes to life, settling into a raspy, staccato idle that grows louder, faster, and more menacing as the routine goes on. About a minute and a half in, the senior mechanic starts blipping the throttle, and the sound takes on the painfully high pitch and volume the 787B is known for. Black jets of smoke shoot out of the tailpipe and into the crowd. The air is so thick with exhaust that my eyes tear up and my throat starts to burn. Retreating is out of the question, though—it’s not every day you get this close to a Le Mans-winning machine in one of the world’s best-known circuits.

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Finally, the car is deemed ready for its track run. The mechanic kills the engine, and the audience claps and cheers. For some of them, the 787B is exactly what they came to the Mazda Fan Festa to see. But there’s a lot more going on here.

PHOTO BY Sharleen Banzon

For the most part, the Mazda Fan Festa is just as I expected. The experience starts as soon as we’re dropped off at the main paddock, where tuners and aftermarket brands have set up shop. The vibe is like a Sunday market—as it happens, we’re here on a Sunday—but instead of produce or crafts or meals, the spread features rims, seats, engine parts, suspension bits, mufflers, steering wheels, shift knobs, and whatever else you need. Or didn’t know you needed until now.

We’re ushered to the AutoExe booth, where the brand is showing off its KM-07 kit for the all-new CX-5 for the first time, alongside its MX-5 build and the rally-inspired ‘Active Xross’ setup for the CX-5 and the CX-30. Some Mazda owners among our group take advantage of the lower prices and do some shopping; I’m sure our publisher Carlo, who recently got a Miata, would have gone completely wild here.

PHOTO BY Sharleen Banzon

Emerging from the pedestrian tunnel onto the event square on the other side of the main straight, I start to feel the danger myself, even if I don’t have a Mazda. The merch game is strong, and the brand’s classy aesthetic applies to its lifestyle items, too. The Mazda Spirit Racing shirts and jackets look extremely cool, and the Spingle collaboration driving shoes seem popular among shoppers as well. I really don’t need another tote bag, but there are so many nice options...

I managed to walk away with just some stickers, a couple of diecast models, a small Be@rBrick x Mazda 787B in the iconic Renown orange-and-green livery, and a shirt commemorating the rotary engine. I kind of regret not getting a Mazda Spirit Racing shirt, but the queue at the register is too long, and there’s no time to go back.

PHOTO BY Sharleen Banzon

There’s also one other thing I need to check out in this area: the limited-edition Mazda MX-5 in Sunflower Yellow. One of the six units produced is on display, and you don’t even have to be a fan of yellow to appreciate the execution of the paint job. It’s warm, rich, and vibrant, but somehow not brash—a very sophisticated yellow is the best way I can describe it, and my photos don’t do it justice.

Wandering around the venue, I can’t help thinking about how the day has been quite...unhurried. Even the crowd is much smaller than I expected. The few times I’ve been to international circuits have been for Formula 1, so I was bracing for the same crush. Some areas have drawn a bigger horde than others, but the atmosphere is mostly chill and relaxed.

Until the 787Bs are brought out.

This year marks the 35th anniversary of the 787B’s victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and just for the occasion, all three units ever built and raced have been brought to the Mazda Fan Festa. I’m pretty sure this is the only time I’ll ever see the complete trio on a racetrack, so like most people here, I dash off to the main straight for a proper look.

Sprinting after the white and blue #18 787B, I wonder if we’re actually allowed to run around on what is essentially a live pit lane. One by one, the other heritage models emerge from their garages—sports prototypes like the 767B and the RX-792P, Cosmo 110 S and RX-7 race cars in various liveries, and the much newer Mazda Spirit Racing models, including the #55 Mazda 3 in Super Taikyu. You won’t see a bigger collection of fast Mazdas anywhere else, just casually driving past you. I laugh out loud at the craziness of it all, which would’ve probably gotten me some looks in Tokyo, but here, nobody cares. We’re all beaming like children on Christmas Eve.

We’re well into the electrified era now, but nothing excites gearheads quite like the smell of gasoline and the sound of combustion engines. I peer into some cockpits, stripped down to little more than the mechanical interface between man and machine. Even in its modern cars, Mazda is able to convey this sense of driving purity gained from decades of racing experience.

For the last few minutes before the race cars’ fly-by, I sit trackside on the grass and watch Yojiro Terada, founder of AutoExe and a veteran of 29 Le Mans races, sign autographs and give interviews beside the #55 787B. AutoIndustriya editor-in-chief Vince Pornelos sees me and snaps a photo. We laugh that we’re getting old, but this sort of experience will never get old.

PHOTO BY Sharleen Banzon

PHOTO BY Vince Pornelos

PHOTO BY Sharleen Banzon

Finally, we’re herded off the track. I sumimasen my way into a spot along the pit wall while the cars begin their parade lap. As they disappear around the bend, a tense silence falls over the crowd. Fuji Speedway is over 4.5km long, so a lap takes a bit of time to complete, building drama and anticipation for the fly-by.

You always hear race cars before you see them. Their sound is such a big part of their character, isn’t it? And the sound of the 787B doesn’t disappoint. The #55’s whine rings out from a distance, getting more intense, frantic, and brutal as it gets closer, resounding on the main straight and overwhelming your ears long after the orange and green blur rips past. The #202 follows in another onslaught of piercing rotary wails, the rest of the pack trailing behind.

About two laps in, a pair of buses trundle down the main straight close to the pit wall, catching some onlookers off-guard. I realize it’s the ‘circuit safari’ that lets VIPs share the track with these racing legends. It’s cool and hilarious at the same time—I happen to glance at the elderly couple beside me looking at the scene in disbelief, and we burst out laughing.

We’re back in the garage shortly after, having our merch signed by Terada-san himself. All that’s left is the sunset parade, and while it’s a much slower procession compared with the fly-by earlier, it’s equally poignant.

PHOTO BY Sharleen Banzon

Various generations of Mazdas make their way to the track, where much of the brand’s performance and handling prowess has been honed. The carmaker is proud of its ‘jinba-ittai’ philosophy—horse and rider as one, pertaining to the near-telepathic link between car and driver that’s at the core of Mazda engineering. It’s what makes these cars a pleasure to drive, and why so many owners become attached.

Beyond that, though, Mazda is one of the few automotive brands that actively maintain a deeper, more personal connection with its supporters. Some carmakers are just that: They make cars. Not a lot will take the time to build a tight-knit community. The Mazda Fan Festa doesn’t just celebrate cars, driving, and heritage—it’s a tribute to the fans themselves. And when you willingly grant access and invite people to share in your passion, you attract some of the most loyal and engaged followers anywhere in the world.

More photos of the Mazda Fan Festa 2027:

PHOTO BY Sharleen Banzon

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