The Mirage name carried a legacy of endurance dominance, thanks to the Gulf-backed John Wyer Automotive team. Wins at Le Mans in 1968, 1969, and 1975 cemented their reputation. When Harley Cluxton acquired the team, renaming it Grand Touring Cars Inc., the American operation continued updating Wyer-era cars between 1976 and 1979.
The dawn of Group C and GTP racing in 1982 called for a fresh start. Cluxton commissioned a completely new Mirage. Howden Ganley’s Tiga Racing Cars built the chassis in England, while U.S. engineers developed the body using Lockheed Aerospace’s wind tunnel. Veteran team manager John Horsman oversaw every step, ensuring the car met the ambitious vision.
The new Mirage M12 was built around a bonded aluminum honeycomb monocoque chassis — a design focused on both strength and lightness. Double wishbones and pull-rods controlled the front suspension, while the rear featured lower wishbones and top rockers. Mounting most suspension components inboard made room for the ground-effect tunnels running along each side of the engine. Power came from Cosworth’s latest long-stroke DFL V8, producing 540 bhp and delivering the kind of performance worthy of Le Mans.
When the bodies arrived from the U.S., they fit the chassis with precision. Designed for Le Mans’ long straights, the body was low and wide, featuring rear wheel spats to reduce drag. Fiberglass and Kevlar panels were topped with a single-element carbon-fiber rear wing. The finished car weighed just 809 kg, lighter than Porsche’s new 956.
The Andretti M12s were poised for glory at the 1982 24 Hours of Le Mans. Chassis M12-001 was driven by Mario and Michael Andretti, while Rick Mears and John Morton were assigned the second car, M12-002. During practice, the Andretti M12 reached an impressive 212 mph on the Mulsanne Straight.
Disaster struck before the race even began. Officials flagged M12-001’s oil coolers behind the gearbox as illegal, a detail missed during scrutineering. With no time to fix the issue, the Andretti M12 was withdrawn. Cluxton, understandably frustrated, vowed never to return to Le Mans or the World Championship.
Despite this setback, M12-001 found its place in IMSA. It raced in three GTP events for Conte Racing, showing the potential of Cluxton’s bold design. The story of chassis M12-001 captures the promise, challenges, and relentless innovation of privateer teams navigating the high-stakes world of Group C and GTP racing.
