1996 Kudzu DLM #20
Pilots: Y. Terada, J. Downing, F. Fréon
Team: Mazdaspeed Co. Ltd.
Race: 25th overall (1st in LMP2 class) at Le Mans in 1996
Spark – S9447 (resin)
Published 05/09/26
Born in 1942, James Downing lived among cars since he was a kid. His father was a big import dealer, and James developed an interest in motorsports. His racing career started in 1963, first in local events, but then SCCA and IMSA in 1974. When he entered IMSA, Mazda took interest in him and from then on, he raced Wankel-powered cars. He first raced Mazda’s RX-3 and RX-4 models, but upgraded to Argo GTP prototypes in 1984. However, the Argo cars were not delivering as expected, so he needed something better. With that, he came up with the idea of building his own car. So, with engineer Sam Garrett, they created the Kudzu DG-1. Essentially, the DG-1 was a 7/8 scale streamlined Argo JM-19, being lightweight and with a small frontal area. Downing designed his own tub and suspension, and used a Mazda 2-rotor engine.
Though the DG-1 was competitive at the get go, he kept developing the car. In 1992 he introduced the Kudzu DG-2, a more versatile model than the DG-1. By then, he wanted to sell the car to customers, so the DG-2 could accept different engines, like a V6. As an IMSA GTP Lights sports prototype, in the hands of privateers, the car achieved moderate success on racetracks. However, Downing realized that running a Buick V6-powered DG-2 was way more expensive than using a Wankel. So in 1993 he debuted the Kudzu DG-3. He designed the car basically from scratch, specifically to use a Mazda rotary engine. Despite using almost the same DG-2 tub, everything else was different, and it scored. In the IMSA it came second at both Daytona and Sebring that year. With the good results, came the idea: what about La Sarthe 🤔?
Since 1992, the 24 Heures du Mans was a non-championship race. What that meant was that it followed some of FIA’s regulations. In other words, not counting broad safety regulations, the ACO followed only the rules that made the race popular. In fact, for 1995 they even accepted WSC-speced cars. Like the DG-3… So, sponsored by Mazda, Downing would take his DG-3 to Le Mans. However, on the final lap at Sebring, in March, an accident totaled the car. With barely enough time, the team took in older DG-2 chassis (#004) and updated to DG-3 specs. Despite the madness of getting it ready, it finished in 7th place overall and third in the WSC class! With that fantastic result, Downing wanted to return to Le Mans in 1996, but this time in the LMP2 class. Therefore, a new car was in order: the Kudzu DLM.
Obviously, for the new DLM, Downing used the DG-3 as the base. With that, the chassis (#007) was very similar, but 45 kg lighter, and with a totally new rear section. The engine was a 2943 cm³ 3-rotor Wankel unit from Mazda, delivering 418 kW (560 hp). Downing cradled the engine in the middle, and power went to the rear wheels via a 5-speed manual transmission. Weighing close to only 675 kg, that rotary engine took the DLM to up to 300 km/h. During testing, at the end of April, the Kudzu DLM #20 finished in 28th place. On race day, June 15th, 1996, the car started out 23rd on the 48-car grid. On the following Sunday, Kudzu DLM #20 finished the race in 25th overall and first in LMP2. Interestingly, it was the only LMP2 car to finish the race and the last car that finished overall.
It’s been a while since the W-143 Garage received an oddball… And yes, the Kudzu DLM is a bona fide odd ball. Why? Let’s begin with the name. Kudzu is a vine from Southeast Asia, that came to the US in the late 1800s as an ornamental plant. Finding ideal conditions in the South it spread wild, overtaking and growing over anything in its path. Yeah, an invasive species, with a HUGE environmental impact. Next in the list, is James Downing himself, a modern garagista. And of course, just look at that argyle-pattern-sweater-livery. Yes, 100% oddball, to its roots 😎. In model form, it’s an oddball AND a dandy: Spark nailed it. With all that, I don’t think the Kudzu DLM #20 will be very popular with most collectors. However, I think that in a few years this will become a sought-after model…🤔