GT40 Mirage : The 1968 season

The Gulf GT40

1967 saw the beginning of the Gulf / JWA partnership. Started at Daytona and Sebring with the GT40 Mk1 1049 while JWA was working on the Mirage M1 . After some success (1st at Spa , Monthlery and Kyalami) they had to abandon the project because the FIA decided to change the regulations. The prototype category was limited to 3 liter engine and the sport prototype to 5 liter with a 25 minimum chassis production. The Mirage could not benefit from the GT40 production series due to too much change in the bodywork and also the change of name.
For 1968 JWA transformed 2 of their Mirages to GT40 specifications. M10001 and M10003 were rebuilt and became 1074 and 1075. After the retirement of these 2 cars at Daytona and Sebring Gulf was wandering if they had chosen the right investment. Fortunately after a win at Brands Hatch (1075) and at Monza (1074) the spirits at Gulf and JWA improved. The Le Mans trials happened the same weekend that the BOAC 500 at Brands Hatch. After the Friday practice in England they sent Jacky Hicks to Le Mans on Saturday to test 1074 and flew back to race 1075 at Brands Hatch. The Nurburgring track didn't suit the GT40 but they managed a 3rd and 6th place. By this time JWA decided to built a third car for back up. They took 1004 which was sitting in the factory unused for some time and prepared it to 1968 race specifications and it was renamed 1084. It raced at Spa (Entered as 1004 !) with 1075 while 1074 went to a full overhaul in preparation of the 24 hours of Le Mans. Spa was 1084 only race. Its 1965 origin made it too heavy compared with its 2 lightweight sister cars.
At Spa Alan Mann brought his new creation : the Ford F3L (or P68) entered as a 3 liter prototype to replace the now obsolete Mk2 he was racing in 1967.
Due to the problems in France in May 1968 the 24 hours was rescheduled in September and the next race was at Watkins Glen. Jacky Icks won again with his favorite mount 1075.
For Le Mans JWA entered 3 cars 1074, 1075 and a completely new one 1076 built to lightweight specifications. Unfortunately the star driver Jacky Icks broke its leg at the F1 Canadian Grand Prix and had to be replaced by Pedro Rodriguez and his regular co driver Brian Redman who also broke his arm at Spa was too replaced by Lucien Bianchi.
Le Mans didn't start very well. After 6 hours 1074 quit (clutch problem first then blown engine) and around midnight 1076 blew it's engine too. Fortunately 1075 ran like a clock and won the 24 hours with 5 laps to the 2nd place Porsche 907.
The Le Mans win secured the manufacturer championship (won mostly by 1075) but they sent anyway 2 cars for the Watkins Glen race for another 1-2 win.
The last remaining Mirage M1 (M1 0001) was sent the the non championship race at Kyalamy for another win with Jacky Icks. It was its last race under Gulf color.
1966 was the year for Mk2, 1067 for the Mk4 but 1968 was the one for the original GT40 : the Mk1.
Beside the Gulf cars a myriad of Mk1 were raced by privateers all year long in local, national and international races

The Le Mans line up:

#9 - Mk1 - Chassis 1075 - Winner - Entered by JWA
#10 - Mk1 - Chassis 1074 - DNF - Entered by JWA
#11 - Mk1 - Chassis 1076 - DNF - Entered by JWA
#12 - Mk1 - Chassis 1078 - DNF - Entered by Strathaven Inc
#8 - Mk1 - Chassis 1079 - DNF - Entered by C. Dubois

The Models: