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Chassis:
The second GR8 built, chassis GR8/802 was driven to third at Le Mans by Jean-Pierre Jaussaud and Vern Schuppan behind its sister car and a Porsche 908/3. It next joined Harley Cluxton's Grand Touring Cars ltd. stable. Liveried in a striking JCB and Total livery it returned to Le Mans to clinch second place, beaten only by the brand new Porsche 936. Now powered by a Renault twin-turbo V6, it repeated that feat in 1977. By 1978 it was re-branded the Mirage M9 and again starred at Le Mans, although it could do no better than 10th after delays. Re-fitted with a Cosworth engine and a long-tail body, chassis 802 made one final appearance at Le Mans as the Mirage M10. For the first time in five attempts, it failed to make it to the finish.
After its lengthy racing career, chassis 802 was restored to its original GR8 configuration and Gulf livery. It was shown for many years in the Rosso Bianco museum before the complete collection was sold in 2006. One of just two GR8s built, it was offered in the 2006 Bonhams Goodwood Revival auction where it changed hands for a hefty £370,000. Chassis GR8/802 is seen here inside the Blackhawk Museum and alongside its Le Mans winning sister car and the sole surviving Mirage M1. At the time part of the ROFGO Collection and rebuilt for historic racing, chassis 802 returned to Le Mans in 2012 for the Le Mans Classic. Unfortunately teething mechanical issues prevented the car from playing a role in the race won by an earlier Mirage M6. It was subsequently sold back to the Cluxton family, who had Marino Franchitti race the car at the 2014 and 2015 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion. In 2018, it was consigned to the annual Gooding Pebble Beach Auctions.
Chassis details |
Manufactured in |
1975 |
First owner |
Gulf Resarch Racing Co. |
Last known location |
Cluxton family |
Appearances |
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Most recent auction(s) |
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