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[h=2]IMSA: Mazda holds special reunion in Japan[/h] Marshall Pruett / Images by Mazda

Days after its new RT24-P Daytona Prototype international completed its latest test at Road Atlanta, members of Mazda's IMSA program have flown west to Japan for a special celebration of the past and present.
"Mazda Fan Festa 2016 in Okayama" has brought together one of the brand's newly retired Mazda Prototypes from the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, its Le Mans-winning 1991 787B, Global MX-5 Cup cars, and a wide assortment of Mazda race cars at the Okayama circuit for demonstration runs.
Mazda Motorsports boss John Doonan, along with IMSA racers Tristan Nunez and Tom Long (pictured below, with Global Mazda MX-5 Cup's Yuui Tsutsumi), have made the trek to participate in the gathering where, according to Doonan, the Mazda Prototype and its famous forefather will share the track for the first time. Filming and photography of both cars in action at Okayama is expected to take place over the weekend.

"As young boys in and around racing, specifically the Mazda Racing family, so many of us dreamed of coming to Japan to see the terrific culture and meet those historic Mazda racers and see the cars that laid the path before us," he told RACER. "While this is my 11th trip to Japan in the last 30 months, those lifelong dreams are coming true for Tristan Nunez, Tom Long and Zach LaGrone and Mike George from our IMSA team this weekend.
"And to have the 1991 Le Mans winner and our 2016 Mazda Prototype car on track together for demonstration runs in front of 5,000 Mazda fans is another dream of a lifetime. Tom and Tristan sat in the Le Mans winner last night and both said, 'my heart is racing.'"
Mazda's North American vintage racing program, featuring prototypes and GT racers from the 1980s and 1990s, is unique among Japanese manufacturers. It makes getting a chance to see the brand honor its racing history at home, in front of a loyal fan base, a welcome role reversal.
"You know, our brand is about giving our owners a terrific life-long experience with Mazda," Doonan added. "To be here this weekend together with so many like-minded folks and hear the rallying cry of the fans, enthusiasts, and fellow racers creates a global oneness that we always hope to accomplish.
"This event is about traditions of the past and promise of the future. We use the Mazda racing heritage at home in America, and here in Japan, to drive our passion as we develop the next generation of talent in the Mazda Road to 24 and the Mazda Road to Indy. Everything we do here is part of an attempt to write the next many chapters in Mazda Motorsports history."
Once the "Fan Festa" is finished, Doonan and Mazda's IMSA team members will head home and continue preparations to compete at the season-opening race at Daytona with its latest P2-based prototype.
"Now we just cannot wait for a return visit so we can celebrate some success with the new Mazda RT24-P," Doonan said. "It's a project that absolutely involved Mazda designers and engineers around the world, and I hope it one day joins these cars with many victories and championships attached to its name."