[8] Coming out of the Maison Blanche portion of the course, he rapidly caught Lance Macklin in his Austin Healey 100S, who had seen him and moved over to the right to let him pass. 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. The Le Mans endurance race is organized by France's Automobile Club de L'Ouest and has been held . 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. 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. The death toll led to an immediate temporary ban on motorsports in France, Spain, Switzerland, Germany, and other nations, until the racetracks could be brought to a higher safety standard. This newsreel without sound shows the crash as it actually happened. "It's a most extraordinary sensation," Macklin said when recalling an incident that spun his car around and sent it skittling down the track backward. [Warning: graphic content]. Getting out, he was immediately ordered by his team to get back in and do another lap to get away from the total confusion and danger. Tony Rolt and other drivers had been raising concerns about the pit straight since 1953. The Getty Images design is a trademark of Getty Images. The other team cars were being kept on tighter leashes to conserve the cars, but still racing in the top ten. [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). During the first lap of Haller's stint (and his second participation) at 9 pm, his, Near the end of his driving stint and half an hour after the green flag came out, the Rondeau of Lafosse, who was lying in seventh place at 5:03 pm, was approaching the Lola T600 of, At 12:40 pm, part of the rear bodywork of Enjolras's WM came loose at Arnage, causing the car to go airborne over the safety barriers. (AP Photo/Jacques Marqueton), Spectators flee the searing flames of a smashed Mercedes racing car after an accident at Le Mans, France, endurance race which killed more than 80 persons, June 11, 1955. Le Mans, France: Rescue workers pursue the grim task of extricating . The official inquiry cleared all drivers of any fault. Tap into Getty Images' global scale, data-driven insights, and network of more than 340,000 creators to create content exclusively for your brand. The Mercedes crashed into the embankment that bordered the track, killing Levegh instantly. Entering the straight, his Matra veered off the inside of the track and exploded into flames. They suggested that Mercedes-Benz had tampered with the official fuel-supply with an explosive additive, but the intensity of the fire was due instead to the magnesium-alloy construction of the chassis. At Le Mans 1955, 83 race fans were killed after debris from the highly-flammable magnesium-alloy bodied Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR went flying into the bleachers after it crashed on the track. Once it was extinguished, there was nothing left but the frame. Also, there is the small matter of unconventional circuits, which unlike other competition which is held on private roads (which are consistently maintained), the Le Mans were held on long stretches of a public highway. [14] The bonnet lid scythed through the air, "decapitating tightly jammed spectators like a guillotine. In the end the enquiry ruled that no specific driver was responsible for the crash, and that it was merely a terrible racing incident. The race authorities never called the race off. The main aim of the competition is basically to test the endurance of sports cars. [1], After conquering F1, Mercedes-Benz had debuted its new 300 SLR in that year's World Sportscar Championship, including a record-setting win at the Mille Miglia for Stirling Moss. Macklin moves over to the right to let him pass. There were two key factors regarding the track layout at that time first, there was no designated deceleration lane for cars coming into the pits, and second, that just before the main straight, there was a very slight right-hand kink in the road just after which Hawthorn started braking. Boards are the best place to save images and video clips. So what are we, in 2014, left with? [14] Half an hour after the crash Fitch realised that news was probably being broadcast on the radio, and he needed to telephone his family to reassure them that he was not the driver of the crashed car. Here, a man holds the body of a child. I should say that the 'pits' were completely undivided from the racetrack back then. Show more. The rear of Leveghs car landed on the berm and exploded into flames. 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. It smacked the barrier and the road shoulder rolling at hurtling speeds through 85 yards and over a further 100 yards, the engine, radiator, and suspension already ablaze were flung through a cluster of spectators destroying everything and anything in its part. [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. Fitch said that in light of "recent unpleasantness," Mercedes "should not win this race over the bodies of however many.. French people." The engine and front axle cut a swath like an artillery barrage. Also, to a certain level to know which car makes the lowest pit stops throughout the race. He wrote a book saying so, and Macklin then sued Hawthorn for libel. Most vehicle manufacturers focus on this particular race to test the fuel efficiency of their vehicles and know the viability of their cars and engines throughout the 24 hours rather than learning how fast their cars can go. In the middle as many as 130 died in the most horrific disaster in. His car skidded off the road on a wet British highway in 1959. The death of the spectators was blamed on inadequate safety standards for the track design. With the Mercedes team withdrawn and the Ferraris all out of commission, Jaguar's main competition had gone. Macklin survived the incident without serious injury, jumping out of the wreck and over the bank. What stands out in these pictures is the confusion. As his, Woolfe had purchased one of the new and high-powered Porsche 917s, and Porsche's own, RD140 (between Mulsanne and Indianapolis). NOJ393 after its restoration by Steve Pike and before its sale at auction by Bonhams. I stood as if in a dream, too horrified to even think."[17][18]. The most recent death is Allan Simonsen, who died in the race of 2013. Accdez au meilleur de Getty Images avec un simple abonnement. . The significant chunk of the car slammed into a concrete structure and disintegrated, causing the fuel tank to explode. This became the semi-official pronouncement of the Mercedes team and Macklin's story. The AP reports that they were trying to beat out the flames on Levegh. 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. The importance of the crash is not how two cars crashed into each other. There is no question that racing cars today are almost infinitely safer than those of 1955. The official inquiry held none of the drivers specifically responsible and criticised the layout of the 30-year-old track, which had not been designed for cars as fast as those involved in the crash. As callous as that might sound, there was a justifiable reason. The circuit at Le Mans is incredibly long, and information was even more sparse away from the immediate vicinity of the crash. In 1969, it was bought for 155 (equivalent to 2,714 in 2021). Neubauer limited himself to suggesting improvements to the pit straight and making pit-stops safer. That said, many contemporary race reports treat the crash unbelievably mildly. However, a press photograph showed Hawthorn smiling on the podium drinking from the victor's bottle of champagne. 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. It decided that auto racing detracted from its primary goals, and the United States Automobile Club was formed to take over the race sanctioning and officiating. The investigation zeroed in on Hawthorns attempt to overtake British driver Lance Macklins Austin Healey and a sudden catastrophic decision to pit. One spectator actually recorded the crash head-on. In the background of the picture below, you can see people on the other side of the track, standing on top of teams' pit garages, trying to see how bad things were. You can see a man here, his arms outstretched in shock. The horror of the crash caused some drivers present, including Americans Fitch (after completing the season with Mercedes), Phil Walters (who had been offered a drive with Ferrari for the rest of the season[2]), and Sherwood Johnston, to retire from racing. 77 deaths at Le Mans Mon 13 Jun 1955 04.33 EDT Le Mans, June 12 Le Mans is in mourning today for the 77 people killed when the blazing wreckage of a Mercedes sports car crashed through. D-Type Jaguars won the Le Mans 24hr endurance race in 1955, 1956 and 1957. Behind them were two Mercedes: Levegh ahead of Fangio. The pieces of the Mercedes ripped through the crowd, crushing and decapitating. The fuel fire raised the temperature of the remaining Elektron bodywork past its ignition temperature, which was lower than that of other metal alloys due to its high magnesium content. Levegh died in the 1955 Le Mans disaster which also killed 83 spectators during the 1955 24 Hours of Le Mans automobile race. It's hard to say just how many people died in the crash. This was only a few hours after the crash. Andr Guilbert was the first driver to die in June 1925 during the race's third year, although this was due to a collision with a van while en route to the race,[1] but is classified by race historians and authors of the official yearbooks, Christian Moity and Jean-Marc Teissedre. Le Mans 11th June 1955. outstanding team of sports writers. Here you can see the damage it took and how it could've acted like a ramp. The next round of the World Sportscar Championship at the Nrburgring was cancelled, as was the non-championship Carrera Panamericana. While all of this unfolded, the race continued. Jaguar driver Duncan Hamilton, and a teammate of Hawthorn, watched the tragedy unfold from the pit wall. He recalled: "The scene on the other side of the road was indescribable. Pierre Levegh, aged 49, had been hired by Mercedes-Benz . It was the turning point in the industry as considerable changes were made towards improving the safety of drivers and spectators. Other pictures show them dragging his body to the pits. (AP Photo), Spectators flee the searing flames of a smashed Mercedes racing car after an accident at Le Mans, France, endurance race which killed more than 80 persons, June 11, 1955. Simplifiez votre flux de travail avec notre systme de gestion des fichiers numriques. "But by overtaking me and braking sharply he forced me to overtake him again, which meant I had to pull out in front of Levegh and Fangio. Hawthorn and his co-driver Ivor Bueb won the race the next afternoon. Police managed to drag the Austin-Healey to the other side of the track. The Jaguar team in turn questioned the fitness and competence of Macklin and Levegh as drivers. As a result, Macklin's car veered across to the centre of the track, apparently briefly out of control. Despite expectations for the race to be red-flagged and stopped entirely, race officials, led by race director Charles Faroux, kept the race running. The car split into three pieces. 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 The 300 SLR featured a body made of an ultra-lightweight magnesium alloy called Elektron. Browse 63 1955 le mans disaster stock photos and images available or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. During the closing period of the preliminary practice session, Weber took an unscheduled lap of the circuit. [2] Sixteen during the race itself, five during pre-race practice and testing sessions, and one en route to the race. The behemoths of sports racing all featured their sports cars with their respective drivers for another car racing festival. Mike Hawthorn celebrating the 1955 Le Mans victory despite causing the deadliest accident in history of racing. Organise, control, distribute, and measure all of your digital content. Grow your brand authentically by sharing brand content with the internets creators. In the background are the pit stalls for the racers. At the 24 Hueres Du Mans in July 1955, the inevitable finally happened. From the pits, they couldn't get across to the wreck, and it was hard to tell how bad everything was. Future British F1 champion Mike Hawthorn drove for Jaguar and then-F1 champion Fangio drove for Mercedes, along with British phenom Stirling Moss, American John Fitch, and Frenchman Pierre Levegh. Mercedes team manager Alfred Neubauer assembled a multinational team for the race: pairing his two best drivers Juan Manuel Fangio and Stirling Moss in the lead car, 1952 race-winner Karl Kling with Frenchman Andr Simon (both also in the current F1 team) and American John Fitch with one of the elder statesmen of French motor-racing, Pierre Levegh. The official government inquiry into the accident called officials, drivers, and team personnel to be questioned and give evidence. Juan Manuel Fangio, Stirling Moss, and Mike Hawthorn were household names in the fifties with the marquee manufacturers of Ferrari, Jaguar along with Mercedes Benz all throwing resources at claiming the crown. When the rest of Levegh's car landed on the embankment, the rear-mounted fuel tank exploded. In 2003, the Federal Assembly of Switzerland started a lengthy discussion about whether this ban should be lifted. . Even for the 50's I am surprised they kept on racing. In the current world of social distancing, it is hard to imagine the crowd of. Life in Harlem in 1970 Photographed by Jack Garofalo, The Burning Monk: The Story Behind the Shocking and Iconic Image of Thich Quang Duc Immolating Himself on a Saigon Street, 1963. But it's wrong to try and point fingers. (AP Photo/Jimmy Prickett). The crash was right in front of a densely packed crowd and grandstands, protected by nothing more than a few hay bales. Maybe that's what makes these pictures still so very chilling. . In picture, car numbered '17' (Equipe Los Amigos, XKD 513, 'short-nose') was third at Le Mans in 1957. The protagonists were Pierre Levegh representing Mercedes, Mike Hawthorn driving for Jaguar, and Lance Macklin of the Austin-Healey team. 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. The body fell one way, the engine broke free and shot off, and the hood and front axle flew further. 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.