When the Lola T616 Mazda first took to the track, it featured a modified 13B rotary engine and was rated at 300-horsepower. As with all rotary engines, the T616 lacked the displacement of competitors' engines, but more than made up for this short-coming with incredible, high-revving reliability and the engine's small size and low weight. In the 1984 season, the team went almost a full year without an engine failure, a huge accomplishment, when other teams were rebuilding their engines after each race. The Mazda Lola's engines weren't even cracked open.

BFGoodrich Tires entered two Mazda Lola T616s in the 1984 24 Hours of Le Mans C Junior (C2) group. Car 68, driven by Americans John Morton and John O'Steen, with Japanese driver Yoshami Katayama, took first in class and placed tenth overall. The number 67 car was piloted by Americans Jim Busby and Rick Knoop as well as Dutchman Boy Hayje and placed third in its class, twelfth overall. The current issue of Vintage Motorsport has a cover story about these historic rotaries.

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