The French magazine L'Auto-Journal published it with the sarcastic caption, " votre sant, Monsieur Hawthorn!" It exploded like a grenade spewing debris through the grandstand, killing anyone within the blast radius. Large pieces of debris flew into the crowd, killing 83 spectators and French driver Pierre Levegh, and injuring nearly 180 more. Two hours after the start, 77 were killed and another 77 injured when Pierre Le Veghs Mercedes somersaulted into the crowd. As callous as that might sound, there was a justifiable reason. Tirez parti du rseau mondial GettyImages, avec plus de 340 000 crateurs, pour dvelopper un contenu exclusif, cr spcialement pour votre marque. The death toll led to an immediate temporary ban on motorsports in France, Spain, Switzerland, West Germany, and other nations, until racetracks could be brought to a higher safety standard. The 1955 Le Mans disaster was a major crash that occurred on 11 June 1955 during the 24 Hours of Le Mans motor race at Circuit de la Sarthe in Le Mans, Sarthe, France. It might have been the case that determined who was at fault once and for all, but Hawthorn died before the case could be resolved. Accounts put the death toll at 80 to 84 (spectators plus Levegh), either by flying debris or from the fire, with a further 120 to 178 injured. I'll try and give an explanation of how it happened, why so many people died, and why the organizers didn't cancel the race after the crash. Three drivers were involved in the incident: Mike Hawthorne (Jaguar D Type), Lance Macklin (Austin Healey 100s), and Pierre Levegh (Mercedes 300SLR). The 1955 Le Mans tragedy was deemed a terrible accident but in truth was the end of an era that would never come again. A reporter for Life magazine recounted that: the Mercedes took off like a rocket, struck the embankment beside the track, hurtled end over end and then disintegrated over the crowd. Le Mans, France: The wreckage of the death car and bodies of some of the victims felled by the explosion on Saturday. The cars had no seat belts; the drivers reasoned that it was preferable to be thrown clear in a collision rather than be crushed or trapped in a burning car. Sixty started, but only 21 finished, with Britains Mike Hawthorn the winner in a Jaguar. Aside from two layout changes to make the circuit shorter, the Circuit de la Sarthe was largely unaltered since the inception of the race in 1923, when top speeds of cars were typically in the region of 100km/h (60mph). Jaguar driver Duncan Hamilton, watching from the pit wall, recalled, The scene on the other side of the road was indescribable. [41] In December 2011, the car, estimated to raise 800,000 before the auction,[41] was sold for 843,000. Millions of high-quality images, video, and music options await you. [42] The car retained the original engine SPL 261-BN,[41] but was reported to be in 'barn find' condition. Search instead in. On that date, the Ministry of the Interior released new regulations for racing events and codified the approval process that future racing events would need to follow. The accident happened at 6:26 pm, at the end of lap 35, when the first pit stops for the leading cars were starting. Other observers estimated the toll to be much higher. Macklin, on reading Hawthorns 1958 autobiography, Challenge Me the Race, was embittered when he found that Hawthorn now disclaimed all responsibility for the crash without identifying who had caused it. One spectator actually recorded the crash head-on. [32][33] In 2015, the ban was relaxed for electric vehicles only, such as cars involved in Formula E electric racing. "[16] Spectators who had climbed onto ladders and scaffolding to get a better view of the track, and those crowding to use the underpass to get to the pits, found themselves in the path of the lethal debris. Meanwhile, Macklin's car, heavily damaged, rammed the left-side barrier, then veered to the right of the track into the pit lane, narrowly missing Kling's Mercedes-Benz, Roberto Mieres's Maserati, and Don Beauman's Jaguar, all of which were already in the pits refuelling before the accident. Amateur driver Kippeurth lost control of his. Levegh crashed into the back of the Austin-Healey. The Mercedes' body was partially made of a magnesium alloy. Le Mans Motor Racing Disaster (1955) | British Path Watch on At least 83 spectators were killed and over a hundred more injured in the 1955 Le Mans Disaster. Going into the second hour, Castellotti started dropping back, but Hawthorn and Fangio continued the duel, swapping the lead and dropping the lap record further and further, lapping most of the field.[4][5]. Thirty-five laps in the worst disaster in motorsports history unfolded. The action was still unresolved when Hawthorn was killed in a non-racing crash on the Guildford bypass in 1959, coincidentally while overtaking a Mercedes-Benz in his Jaguar. If you would like to manage your push notification preferences, you can do so here. With the Mercedes team withdrawn and the Ferraris all out of commission, Jaguar's main competition had gone. In the days after the disaster, several explanations were offered by Faroux for this course of action. Access the best of Getty Images with our simple subscription plan. (AP Photo/Jimmy Prickett), A few of the living come to the rescue among the dead and injured following the worst tragedy in racing history at Le mans, France, June 11, 1955. The protagonists were Pierre Levegh representing Mercedes, Mike Hawthorn driving for Jaguar, and Lance Macklin of the Austin-Healey team. The investigations and reviews of the accident continued for a year and a half afterwards. The weather had closed in on Sunday morning and there was no victory celebration. Behind these fleeing spectators is the scene where many were killed when hit by flying pieces of the racer which exploded after crashing into a retaining wall. Dewis ventured the opinions that Macklin's move around Hawthorn was careless and that Levegh was not competent to meet the demands of driving at the speeds the 300SLR was capable of. [30], Most countries lifted their racing bans within a year after the disaster. [3], Jaguar driver Duncan Hamilton, watching from the pit wall, recalled, "The scene on the other side of the road was indescribable. If you had panned in your camera on Jaguar driver Mike Hawthorne drinking from the fizz of the victor's champagne bottle and ignoring the happenings at the Le Mans circuit, you would have been forgiven to think that it was another victor's dance at the podium. It was Hawthorn's Jaguar that started the whole incident, after all. Drivers run to their cars for the start of the Le Mans 24 hour race in Le Mans, France on June 11, 1955. Documentary about the 1955 Le Mans 24-hour race in which Pierre Levegh's Mercedes went into the crowd killing 83 and injuring 120, the worst disaster in motor racing history. He wrote a book saying so, and Macklin then sued Hawthorn for libel. 82 people were killed during a crash at Le Mans 24-hour race in 1955 Pierre Levegh's Mercedes ricocheted into the pit-lane grandstand The race between leaders Mike Hawthorn (Jaguar) and Juan. Mike-Hawthorn.org.uk hosts right here a 1993 report on the race, and includes a comment from 'Lofty' England, the Jaguar team boss. It commemorates the deadliest accident in motorsport history, which took place at the 24 Hours of Le Mans race on June 11, 1955. [14] The bonnet lid scythed through the air, "decapitating tightly jammed spectators like a guillotine. ". The Mercedes trucks were packed up and gone by morning. Waiting until 1:45 am, when many spectators had left, he stepped onto the track and quietly called his cars into the pits, at the time running first and third. Macklin, who also braked hard, ran off the right-hand edge of the track, throwing up dust. One marshal tried to douse the burning wreckage with water and sent huge bursts of white hot fire into the crowd, killing more as this recent history explains. He recalled: "The scene on the other side of the road was indescribable. Here you can see the damage it took and how it could've acted like a ramp. 0. "As I was rolling along backward I saw Levegh's car following me in the air, with Levegh sort of hunched over in the cockpit. Macklin claimed that Hawthorns move to the pits was sudden, causing an emergency that led him to swerve into Leveghs path. The dead and dying were everywhere; the cries of pain, anguish, and despair screamed catastrophe. Last edited on 19 February 2023, at 23:30, "Historic Motor Racing - historicracing.com", "Lucien Bianchi Profile - Drivers - GP Encyclopedia - F1 History on Grandprix.com", "Race Car Driver Deaths: The Medical Causes of Racing Deaths w Examples", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_24_Hours_of_Le_Mans_fatalities&oldid=1140404005, Guilbert was making his way to the circuit during the morning of the race in his Ravel, a car designed by. An estimated attendance of between 250,000 and 300,000 crammed together to witness one of the most spectacular driver line ups ever assembled to contest the venue's iconic 24-Hour race. Tap into Getty Images global-scale, data-driven insights and network of over 340,000creators to create content exclusively for your brand. [Warning: graphic content]. [25] In the end the enquiry ruled that no specific driver was responsible for the crash, and that it was merely a terrible racing incident. [39], Fitch became a major safety advocate and began active development of safer road cars and racing circuits. Having achieved that, Mercedes withdrew from motorsport. [36] Tertre Rouge was moved about 200m and new tyre barriers were installed at the exit in 2014. A special Mass was held in the morning in the Le Mans Cathedral for the first funerals of the victims. Jaguar driver Duncan Hamilton, and a teammate of Hawthorn, watched the tragedy unfold from the pit wall. In the middle as many as 130 died in the most horrific disaster in motorsports history. The 1955 Le Mans disaster occurred during the 1955 24 Hours of Le Mans motor race, when a crash caused large fragments of racing car debris to fly into the crowd. Entering the straight, his Matra veered off the inside of the track and exploded into flames. June 11, 2020 Indeed, the German company withdrew from all motor racing at the end of that season and did not return until 1987. Showing Editorial results for le mans 1955. Fitch approached one of the Mercedes team bosses and explained to him why it made sense for the very German team (many of those working at the team were very much active when Mercedes race cars had swastikas painted on the side) to pull out of this French race. With the Mercedes-Benz team withdrawn and the Ferraris all broken, Jaguars main competition had gone. At 125 miles an hour, "he had no chance to do so himself.". Collect, curate and comment on your files. The first media accounts were wildly inaccurate, as shown by subsequent analysis of photographic evidence conducted by Road & Track editor (and 1955 second-place finisher) Paul Frre in 1975. A further 120 people were injured. There was the inevitable finger-pointing as to whose fault this event was, but everyone was absolved of blame after a thorough investigation. This became the semi-official pronouncement of the Mercedes team and Macklin's story. I did not discuss who might have been to blame but said that I believed the organizers had been right to continue the race and that Mercedes, having continued to race for more than six hours after the accident, I could not see the point in them withdrawing, and I did not intend to pull out the cars. Les tableaux sont le meilleur endroit pour sauvegarder des images et des vidos. The Ferraris, current champions at the time, were very fast but fragile and prone to mechanical failure. The 1955 24 Hours of Le Mans was the 23rd 24 Hours of Le Mans and took place on 11 and 12 June 1955 on Circuit de la Sarthe.It was also the fourth round of the F.I.A. Exiting the Tertre Rouge corner, Larivire lost control of his car and launched over a sandbank along the. Putting another lap on Macklin coming up to the main straight, Hawthorn then raised his hand to indicate he was pitting and pulled across to the right (from Hawthorn's testimony). Large pieces of debris, including the Mercedes' engine block, radiator, front suspension, and bonnet (hood), were sent flying into the packed spectator area in front of the grandstand. I stood as if in a dream, too horrified to even think."[17][18]. [3] Levegh was thrown out of his tumbling car and hit the ground, crushing his skull upon impact and killing him instantly. One British race report praised the variety of the field representing "a United Nations of motor racing." Everything started when Hawthorn in his Jaguar cut in for the pits. Show more. Supposedly they were concerned that crowds of people leaving the track would keep ambulances from getting to those in need. Your email address will not be published. [25] Additional details emerged when the stills reviewed by Frre were converted to video form. Streamline your workflow with our best-in-class digital asset management system. Behind these fleeing spectators is the scene where many were killed when hit by flying pieces of the racer which exploded after crashing into a retaining wall. 24 Hours du Mans (in French), held at the Circuit de la Sarthe in Northern France, is a 24 hours' endurance-focused sports car race that started in 1923. It's easy to find reports of the crash today that talk about how desensitized the public was to the crash. The 1955 Le Mans disaster of 11th June 1955 during the 24 Hours of Le Mans motor race at Circuit de la Sarthe in Le Mans, Sarthe, France. Catastrophe aux 24 heures du Mans en 1955 (France 3 Ouest, 2008), Apokalypse in Le Mans Das Rennen in den Tod (2010), Deadliest Crash: the Le Mans 1955 Disaster (Programme Website), "Crash and carnage at 150 mph This is how the worst racing accident happened", "1955 24 Hours of Le Mans - History, Profile, Information and Photos", "Mike Hawthorn & the 1955 24 Hours of Le Mans: The Cause and the Effect", "BBC Four - The Deadliest Crash: the Le Mans 1955 Disaster", "1956 Sebring 12 Hours Grand Prix - Race Photos, History, Profile", "Switzerland Officially Lifts 67-Year Ban On Circuit Racing", "Sir Jackie Stewart and Halo: No stranger to F1 safety ridicule", "Historic Austin-Healey car in Le Mans disaster to fetch '1m at auction", "1953 Austin-Healey has been restored to its former glory", Le Mans 1955 from The Mike Hawthorn Tribute Site, Newsreel footage of the 1955 race and crash, Life Magazine report of the 1955 Le Mans Disaster, 1955 Le Mans Disaster depicted and analyzed in depth by a witness (currently available only in French), Deadliest Crash: The Le Mans 1955 Disaster, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=1955_Le_Mans_disaster&oldid=1142738568, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles with unsourced statements from June 2017, Articles with French-language sources (fr), Wikipedia articles needing clarification from March 2015, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, that if the huge crowd of spectators had tried to leave, that firms participating in the race could have sued the race organizers for huge sums of money, that "the rough law of sport dictates that the race shall go on"; Faroux specifically pointing to the, that he did not, in fact, have the authority to stop the race at all, and that, This page was last edited on 4 March 2023, at 02:57. But I am not fully convinced that everyone was as cold to the crash then as they are now. [14][15], Levegh's front-right wheel rode up onto the rear-left corner of Macklin's car, which acted as a ramp and launched Levegh's car into the air, flying over spectators and rolling end over end for 80 metres (260ft). Jaguar concentrated their racing almost exclusively on Le Mans and had a very experienced driver line-up, including Formula 1 (F1) Ferrari driver Mike Hawthorn. When Mercedes pulled out, they approached the Jaguar team. Search instead in Creative? Accdez au meilleur de Getty Images avec un simple abonnement. It shows you not only how the crash happened, but how little stood between those watching and the flying wreckage. The action was still unresolved when Hawthorn was killed in a non-racing crash on the Guildford bypass in 1959, ironically while overtaking a Mercedes-Benz in his Jaguar. Le Mans, France: The wreckage of the death car and bodies of some of the victims felled by the explosion on Saturday. Tap into Getty Images' global scale, data-driven insights, and network of more than 340,000 creators to create content exclusively for your brand. France in particular, as the host of Le Mans, lifted their complete ban on 14 September 1955. "The man was not injured by the flying debris, but his son was killed. You can see a man here, his arms outstretched in shock. Modern race cars have fuel cells which keep fuel from spreading as it did here, and they don't use magnesium like they did then, either. Discover the great outdoors on Ireland's best walking trailsStart Exploring, Latest news from the world of sport, along with the best in opinion from our The media also speculated on the violent fire that engulfed the wreck, which intensified when fire marshals poured their water-based extinguishers on the flames. And the car's magnesium body burst into flames like a torch, burning others to death.. John Fitch, Levegh's American co-driver, had suited up and was ready to take over the car at the upcoming pit stop, and was standing with Levegh's wife Denise Bouillin. The disaster at Le Mans heralded a new era for motorsports with more technological innovations to improve sports cars and driver's safety. The momentum of the heaviest components of the car the engine block, radiator, and front suspension hurtled straight on into the crowd for almost 100 metres (330ft), crushing all in their path. The deadliest crash ever in motor sports history happened in Le Mans, France, on June 12, 1955. The shadow of World War Two crept over the race. Here is a full view of the crash site from the nearby stands. France and Switzerland both banned motor racing after Le Mans. Boards are the best place to save images and video clips. By clicking on 'Sign Up' you will be the first to know about our latest and best sporting content on this browser. The rear of Leveghs car landed on the berm and exploded into flames. The Austin-Healey driver had to swerve out of the way as Hawthorn darted into the pits. The crash happened only a few hours into the race, just as the leaders started making their first pit stops. Racing fuel exploded. Browse 265 le mans 1955 stock photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. Other pictures show them dragging his body to the pits. The car landed on the earthen embankment between the spectators and the track, bounced, then slammed into a concrete stairwell structure and disintegrated. The car rolled over during the incident. The 1955 Le Mans disaster was a major crash that occurred on 11 June 1955 during the 24 Hours of Le Mans motor race at Circuit de la Sarthe in Le Mans, Sarthe, France. [14][9] As a result, the car burned for several hours. The behemoths of sports racing all featured their sports cars with their respective drivers for another car racing festival. 2023 Getty Images. died when he crashed into an insufficiently protected tree, crashed and nearly careened over a low wall into a large row of photographers. The doctor laid the boy in his car. Search instead in Creative? It was only ten years after the end of WWII, and dead bodies in the French countryside was fresh in everyone's memory. In picture, car numbered '17' (Equipe Los Amigos, XKD 513, 'short-nose') was third at Le Mans in 1957. Extricating the Dead and Dying. That said, the circuit had been resurfaced and widened after the Second World War. Extricating the Dead and Dying. It is one part of the Triple Crown of Motorsport, including the Indianapolis 500 and the Monaco Grand Prix. There had been claims that when Lafosse attempted to make up for lost time, either suspension or tyre failure caused the car to veer off suddenly into the barrier.[2][30][31]. He had just lapped Levegh (running sixth) after Arnage (one of the corners of the race track) and was determined to keep Fangio at bay as long as possible. [15][8], Macklin, on reading Hawthorn's 1958 autobiography, Challenge Me the Race, was embittered when he found that Hawthorn now disclaimed all responsibility for the crash without identifying who had caused it. Much recrimination was directed at Hawthorn, saying that he had suddenly cut in front of Macklin and slammed on the brakes near the entrance to the pits, forcing Macklin to take desperate evasive action into the path of Levegh. Below is that interview in full. Your brain acts so fast you can see everything, and I can remember as I was spinning I saw the timekeepers watching me from their booth. Paul Frere - It is completely clear from these photographs that Hawthorn did not make a sudden-brake-and-pull-sharp-right manoeuvre only a short distance from the pits Tony Bailey No use without acknowledgement Plagiarism of this site will NOT be tolerated Home Home Rassembler, slectionner et commenter vos fichiers. Fangio and Moss were the lead pairing for the German company who had pinned their hopes on a new 300 SLR which boasted an ultra-lightweight magnesium alloy body. As the Austin-Healey moved across the road, Levegh raised his hand. On the other hand: damn those Jaguar D-types look nice. Le Mans, France: Rescue workers pursue the grim task of extricating . Eighty-four. Once it was extinguished, there was nothing left but the frame. In other racing events where a car's ability is based on how fast it moves and in record time, this is a test of car reliability. Opinions differed widely amongst the other drivers as to who was directly to blame for the crash, and such differences remain even today. RELATED: 10 Of The Coolest Le Mans Prototypes No One Remembers. Shortly before he died, he wrote of the race: "It was as though we were at the point where a great rock had been hurled into a pond, sending out waves of shock and horror and indignation which would later flow back, bringing consequences which no one could foresee. [43] It was then restored to its original condition.[44]. Both Jaguar and Mercedes-Benz issued official statements, mainly in self-defense against the accusations leveled against them and their drivers. Even after modifications had been made to the Circuit de la Sarthe after 1955, Louis Hry was killed on his own just a year later. One of the major news stories after the 1955 Le Mans disaster was the retirement of Mercedes-Benz from future races. [15][16], Prior to the crash, the car was involved in a previous incident with partial damage to the front bodywork, as photographic evidence shows. Levegh rear-ended Macklin at high speed, overriding Macklin's car and launching his own car through the air. [2] Sixteen during the race itself, five during pre-race practice and testing sessions, and one en route to the race. Macklin moves over to the right to let him pass. Only two cars were involved in the disaster. Bodies were strewn throughout the stands The majority of the dead were French, with the numbers injured running into the hundreds. [citation needed], Over the next year, the Automobile Club de l'Ouest (ACO) set about making extensive track improvements and infrastructure changes at the Circuit de la Sarthethe pit straight was redesigned and widened to remove the kink just before the start-finish line, and to give room for a deceleration lane. In terms of human toll, it is the most catastrophic accident in motorsports history. Le Mans, France: The wreckage of the death car and bodies . Eighty-three spectators and driver Pierre Levegh died and 120 more were injured in the most catastrophic accident in motorsport history. The 1955 Le Mans disaster of 11th June 1955 during the 24 Hours of Le Mans motor race at Circuit de la Sarthe in Le Mans, Sarthe, France. The other team cars were being kept on tighter leashes to conserve the cars, but still racing in the top ten. I've seen many shots of the '55 disaster, but never all of them in one place outside of the AP archives. During late night practice, a week before the race, Michelot went out to test one of the cars during the night following a meal at the Hunaudires restaurant. The driver (Pierre Levegh) was killed, as were 83 spectators. A large tree behind the Armco has been considered to be an integral part of the impact, causing an aortal separation in the driver's chest.
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