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Engen Xtreme proudly partnered with the #MazdaMasters2026 Sim Racing Championship to celebrate performance, innovation, and motorsport heritage through a modern racing experience inspired by the 35-year anniversary of Mazda’s historic victory at Le Mans with the Mazda 787B.
More than three decades after rewriting motorsport history, the Mazda 787B remains one of the most iconic race cars ever built. In 1991, Mazda became the first Japanese manufacturer to win the prestigious endurance race outright, while the 787B became the first – and remains the only – rotary-powered race car to claim overall victory. The achievement cemented Mazda’s reputation for challenging convention and pursuing innovation through engineering excellence.
The national simulated (sim) racing initiative brought together the top 40 competitors from across South Africa in a digital racing competition, culminating in a live championship final which was hosted at Mettlestate on 20 June 2026.
Inspired by the endurance, precision and performance that defined the original Le Mans victory, finalists competed remotely from across the country on their simulation racing rigs, while audiences and sponsors joined an interactive six-hour live broadcast featuring racing action, interviews, and prize presentations from the studio alongside the race hosts, with the competition remaining fully digital.
As part of the partnership, Engen Xtreme Lubricants sponsored the Engen Xtreme Oil Grid Legends Top 10 Finish Award, which recognised ten high-performing competitors beyond the podium and reinforced the brand’s commitment to endurance, performance, and the next generation of motoring enthusiasts.
The main prize pool awarded R30,000 to the 1st place winners, along with vouchers worth R10,000 per winning team member. The 2nd place finishers received R15,000, while the 3rd place finishers received R5,000. Competitors placing 4th to 13th each received R1,000 as part of the Engen Xtreme Oil Grid Legends Top 10 Finish Award.
Through its R10,000 contribution to the event prize pool, Engen Xtreme helped enhance the championship experience and support broader participant recognition across the competition.
The collaboration reflects a natural alignment between Mazda’s rich motorsport heritage and Engen Xtreme’s focus on high-performance driving, innovation, and engaging new audiences through relevant cultural and digital platforms. Both brands share a passion for performance, endurance, and inspiring enthusiasts through memorable experiences.
The #MazdaMasters2026 initiative formed part of Mazda Southern Africa’s broader 787B Heritage Campaign, which celebrates one of the brand’s most significant achievements while introducing a new generation of enthusiasts to the spirit, innovation, and challenger mindset that continue to define Mazda today.
Engen Xtreme energy drink, in partnership with SWITCH, extended the performance theme beyond the track and created an additional touchpoint for competitors and teams. Five Special Award winners over the age of 18 each received a six-pack of Engen Xtreme SWITCH energy drink (to be confirmed).
Melissa Graham, Engen Lubricants Marketing Manager, said: “Motorsport has always represented more than competition; it is about precision, performance, passion, and pushing boundaries. Through our partnership with #MazdaMasters2026, Engen Xtreme engaged with a new generation of motoring enthusiasts through sim racing while celebrating one of motorsport’s most iconic milestones alongside Mazda.
As consumer behaviour evolves and gaming culture continues to influence how audiences connect with brands, initiatives like this create meaningful opportunities to remain relevant while staying true to what Engen Xtreme stands for: performance under pressure and the pursuit of excellence. On the importance of a good lubricant, reliability is performance – and that is what a good quality lubricant like Engen Xtreme gives you.”
Beyond the prize sponsorship, Melissa Graham also joined the live broadcast on Ignition TV in a leadership interview segment exploring the growing intersection between gaming, youth culture, and performance-led brand experiences, and shared why Engen supported the #MazdaMasters2026 initiative.
The event demonstrated how established automotive and performance brands can engage audiences in new ways, connecting motorsport heritage with digital participation and shared experiences.
By combining the legendary legacy of the Mazda 787B with the energy and accessibility of modern sim racing, #MazdaMasters2026 created a platform where past and future met in celebration of performance, innovation, and endurance.
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