The Japanese Race Cars Making Pebble Beach History

This is a big deal!

There have only ever been one or maybe two Japanese cars on the field at Pebble in the 75 years the show's been in existence. In 1968, a Toyota 2000GT was on the lawn as an entrant. In 2002, Japanese designer Ken Okuyama's Ferrari-based Kode57 was shown on the concept lawn. And the Japanese Automotive Invitational was a fixture for several years on the hill high above Pebble Beach starting in 2018.

But this year will mark the first time an entire class of Japanese cars will be shown on the 18th fairway as an official part of the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance since the event started in 1950.

Japanese Motorsports: The Rising Sun at Speed will occupy its own row on the green next to Pre-War Open-Topped, Post-War Closed-Top, etc. etc.

"Le Mans has long been considered the most challenging endurance contest," Pebble said. "Marques like Bentley, Alfa Romeo, Ferrari, Ford, and Porsche have all enhanced their reputations with impressive victories there. Understandably, Japanese automakers were eager to show that their cars could compete in that grueling international endurance race."

And they did. Mazda was the first to win at La Sarthe, in 1991. Toyota, Mazda, and Nissan also entered the 24 Hours of Le Mans in the 1990s. Mazda's victory came in an unconventional 787B Rotary. Toyota won five years in a row from 2018 to 2022 with a variety of hybrid engine configurations. In 1990, when a Nissan won the pole, it qualified six seconds faster than the nearest Porsche. And Honda took a class victory in GT2 in 1995 with an NSX entered by Team Kunimitsu with an all-Japanese roster of drivers.

Here are some of the Japanese race cars you can expect to see when you walk out onto the lawn at Pebble August 16.

1985 Toyota 85C L Longtail

You'll see one of the above, not all five. The 85C was built by Dome and TOM'S for Toyota, it famously became the first Japanese-built car to finish the 24 Hours of Le Mans, taking 12th place overall in 1985 with a 2.1-liter Toyota 4T-GTE turbocharged inline-4 making 500 hp.

1988 Nissan GTP ZX-T GTP Prototype

This was built for IMSA, not Le Mans, but it was a significant car that showed Japan's ability to dominate in a racing series. Driven by Geoff Brabham and many other talented racers, the design won eight races in the 1988 season and 10 in 1989, securing IMSA GTP championships both years.

1990 Nissan R91 CP Group C Prototype

This one didn't win Le Mans but it did win at Daytona, the first Japanese car to claim victory there.

1991 Mazda 787B Group C Prototype

This is the first Japanese car to win Le Mans, taking the checkered flag after 24 hours in 1991. It's also the loudest, with Mazda's four-rotor R26B Wankel screaming around the track all day and all night, so no one slept at Le Mans that year.

1991 Toyota AAR Eagle MkIII IMSA GTP Coupe

This car was seemingly unbeatable in IMSA competition. Built in carbon fiber surrounding Toyota's turbocharged 503E four-cylinder, it introduced new sophistication to IMSA competition in aerodynamics and engineering.

2010 Honda HPD ARx-01C Le Mans Prototype

This car was one of the most successful LMP2 entries in modern racing, wrapped in carbon fiber and powerd by a 4.3-liter V8. It finished fifth overall at Le Mans despite being a class down from the leaders.

2018 Toyota TSO50 Hybrid Le Mans Coupe

The TS050 delivered Toyota's first overall win at Le Mans after 20 years of trying. The car's hybrid-electric powertrain recuperated energy entering each corner and dished it out at each exit. This car lead Toyota to a historic 1-2 finish at the 24 Hours, crossing the line 16.9 seconds ahead of its sister TS050.

And also be sure to check out Pete Brock and his BRE Datsuns at Weathertech Raceway Laguna Seca. Brock is the Grand Marshall at the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion this year. In fact, the theme of this year's Motorsports Reunion is, Salute to Japanese Motorsports: A Tradition of Precision & Heritage.

Things are changing up on the peninsula. Go see.