Video: How to drive a Mirage GR8 at Laguna Seca

Having teased you with the clip of the Mazda RX-7 GTO circulating during qualifying at Laguna Seca during last weekends’ Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion, it’s now time to unleash upon you the fury of a Cosworth DFV V8 bolted in to a Mirage GR8 at full chat at the same event.

Our pilot is Marino Franchitti in an example of the car that triumphed at Le Mans in 1975. Listening to the way the F1-derived motor is punished between the corners it’s hard to imagine one lasting the full 24 hours at La Sarthe. Indeed, during the race the high-revving V8 generated enough destructive vibrations to cause cracking in the exhaust pipes, but the Mirages were hot favourites from the start in 1975 and finished first and third, either side of a Ligier JS2 which also ran an example of the venerable Cosworth motor.

Here Mr Franchitti appears to be chasing down the Lola T294 of Wade Carter and a 1973 Mirage driven by Chris McAllister, who themselves are having a highly entertaining dice just up the road. Despite the pair often scrapping for the same piece of blacktop and some fine driving from our Scottish pilot, the Mirage doesn’t manage to close-up the gap. In fact, later on we’re passed going into turn one by an Osella. 

However, despite a relative and marginal lack of pace from ‘our’ car, this video is still a Grade-A item in our book just for the sublime screamings of the Cosworth V8. Yet again it seems our duty to urge to to turn the volume right up. This is superb …