TOKYO -RIJ- (April 8, 1996) The trio of Japanese veteran Yojiro Terada, former French IndyCar driver Franck Freon and American veteran Jim Downing will run Le Mans 24 Hours Race again with Mazda (Kudzu) DG-4 Mazda (three-rotar,) Mazdaspeed announced in Tokyo Monday. They are same line-up of Mazdaspeed Team in 1995 Le Mans. Mazda DG-4 is evolution model of Mazda DG-3 which was used at Le Mans 24H and Suzuka 1000km in 1995.
It will be 18th challenge to Le Mans for Terada. He drives Mazda Lantis and Franck Freon drives Mazda Familiar (323) in All Japan Touring Car Championship this year. Downing is well known as The Father of IMSA Camel GTP Light and has been competing in IMSA WSC series with his Downing Atlanta team's Kudzu DLM Mazda in USA.