Jaguar driver Duncan Hamilton, watching from the pit wall, recalled, The scene on the other side of the road was indescribable. Eighty-three spectators and driver Pierre Levegh died and 120 more were injured in the most catastrophic accident in motorsport history. Organise, control, distribute, and measure all of your digital content. 2023 Getty Images. The Worst Accident in Motorsports History (1955 Le Mans Disaster) - YouTube 0:00 / 2:27 Sign in to confirm your age This video may be inappropriate for some users. The Austin-Healey driver had to swerve out of the way as Hawthorn darted into the pits. Extricating the Dead and Dying. Neubauer got the French authorities to test residual fuel left in the wreck's fuel injection and the result vindicated the company. Innocence - along with a tragic human toll - was lost forever. Stewart's campaign gained momentum after the deaths of Lorenzo Bandini and Jim Clark. Streamline your workflow with our best-in-class digital asset management system. Now it's recorded that Mercedes pulled out of the race following the crash. Instead it pointed the finger of blame at the track layout which was deemed unsuitable for such high- speed racing. Sign in The Worst Accident in. Extricating the Dead and Dying. That was the exact number of spectators killed during the Le Mans disaster. Opinions differed widely amongst the other drivers as to who was directly to blame for the crash, and such differences remain even today. . Show more. 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 AP states that it's unclear how this body ended up as it lay. The pits and grandstands had been reconstructed, but there were no barriers between the pit lane and the racing line, and only a 4ft (1.2m) earthen bank between the track and the spectators. He was among the dead. 63 1955 Le Mans Disaster Premium High Res Photos The 24 Hours of Le Mans is safer, much safer, than it was in 1955, but it is still a deadly track. 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. Even at the scene, it doesn't look like anyone knows what's going on. Years later Fitch claimed, based on his own recollection and from what he heard from others, that Hawthorn had caused it. It was the turning point in the industry as considerable changes were made towards improving the safety of drivers and spectators. Eighty-four. The car lacked the more effective state-of-the-art disc brakes featured on the rival Jaguar D-Type, instead incorporating inboard drum brakes and a large air brake behind the driver that could be raised to increase drag and slow the car.[2]. The images may be black and white but even the faded frames of a tragedy 65 years ago still pack a powerful punch. The AP reports that they were trying to beat out the flames on Levegh. Both Jaguar and Mercedes-Benz issued official statements, mainly in self-defense against the accusations leveled against them and their drivers. My instant reaction when he did it was, 'Bloody Mike Hawthorn, he must be out of his mind!' [41] In December 2011, the car, estimated to raise 800,000 before the auction,[41] was sold for 843,000. 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. A special Mass was held in the morning in the Le Mans Cathedral for the first funerals of the victims. . These big wigs included Ferrari, Jaguar, and Mercedes Benz, who were past winners of the competition. It's important to look at why so many people died that medical attention was so poor, that the Mercedes so easily split into multiple parts and sprayed out its fuel, that the crowd was so poorly protected. A photographer captured Hawthorn slugging from the customary bottle of champagne presented to the victory - just over 20 hours after the tragedy. Le Mans 11th June 1955 - video Dailymotion Jaguar went on to win the race. Showing Editorial results for le mans 1955. I've seen many shots of the '55 disaster, but never all of them in one place outside of the AP archives. In 1969, it was bought for 155 (equivalent to 2,714 in 2021). 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. [40], Macklin's Austin-Healey 100 was sold to several private buyers before appearing on the public auction block. The Lola was completely destroyed, debris from the car were all around the forest, Bonnier had been killed upon impact. Other bodies are scattered near the picket fence where the Mercedes racer crashed. 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. Browse 305 le mans 1955 stock photos and images available or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. Everything started when Hawthorn in his Jaguar cut in for the pits. French magazin L'Auto-Journal published the image with the sarcastic laden caption, votre sant, Monsieur Hawthorn. ("To your health, Mr Hawthorn."). 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. [15] The initial 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. Shortly after midnight Mercedes retired its cars from racing were running first and third. The disaster at Le Mans heralded a new era for motorsports with more technological innovations to improve sports cars and driver's safety. 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. Millions of high-quality images, video, and music options are waiting for you. [36], The official government inquiry into the accident called officials, drivers, and team personnel to be questioned and give evidence. At the time of his mistake, the Mercedes were running 2 and 3 twenty-five miles behind the Talbot! 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]. 2023 Getty Images. The greatest carmakers in the world were competing, as were the best drivers. The weather had closed in on Sunday morning and there was no victory celebration. June 11, 2020 Years later Fitch claimed, based on his own recollection and from what he heard from others, that Hawthorn had caused it. A police officer helps carry out an injured man, dazed. (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. Le Mans, France: Rescue workers pursue the grim task of extricating . Only two cars were involved in the disaster. In terms of human toll, it is the most catastrophic accident in motorsports history. Showing Editorial results for le mans 1955. After his victory, Hawthorn celebrated with champagne. This was indeed one of the most terrible accidents in the early decades of motorsports. Pierre Levegh, in a Mercedes Benz, was next on the scene. 1955 Le Mans disaster | Autopedia | Fandom This forced Swiss racing promoters to organize circuit events in foreign countries including France, Italy, and West Germany. Levegh's Mercedes flipped into the air and struck the sandbank at the side of the track. 'The hood decapitated tightly jammed spectators like a guillotine': Le Macklin is startled at not having the more technologically advanced disc brakes as the Jaguar, which leads him to move to the right, kicking up dirt before veering towards the center of the track. Thirty-five laps in the worst disaster in motorsports history unfolded. Ivor Bueb and Norman Dewis, both Le Mans debutants, had to step into their respective cars for their first driver stints. "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. "[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. There was also the criticism of the winner Mike Hawthorne for celebrating excessively, but he pushed back, saying it was no fault of his. 1955 - the Le Mans Crash in 90+ pictures from the Mike Hawthorn Tribute [14] The bonnet lid scythed through the air, "decapitating tightly jammed spectators like a guillotine. I stood as if in a dream, too horrified to even think. Browse 312 le mans 1955 stock photos and images available or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. Large pieces of debris flew into the crowd, killing 83 spectators and French driver Pierre Levegh, and injuring nearly 180 more. Select from premium Le Mans Disaster of the highest quality. "I think he misjudged the speed of my car [which would have been around 120 at this point] and its position and that he was afraid of having to go around again and run the risk of running out of petrol. Neubauer limited himself to suggesting improvements to the pit straight and making pit-stops safer. This is a list of 24 Hours of Le Mans fatal accidents, which consists of all the drivers who have died during a 24 Hours of Le Mans weekend, or in pre-race testing or practice sessions in preparation of the event. The Getty Images design is a trademark of Getty Images. It shows you not only how the crash happened, but how little stood between those watching and the flying wreckage. [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. In 1957, D-Types were placed 1-2-3-4-6, with only a solitary Ferrari in 5th spoiling the parade. 312 Le Mans 1955 Photos and Premium High Res Pictures - Getty Images CREATIVE EDITORIAL All Sports Entertainment News Archival Browse 312 le mans 1955 stock photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. However, there was a return to the sport in the '90s. "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. In the history of racing disasters, the 1955 24 Hours of Le Mans tragedy still exists in a category of . Le Mans Disaster 11th June 1955 - 84 Killed | Belfast Child At the time, it took over six hours for the team to withdraw its cars. The rest of the 1955 World Sportscar Championship season was completed, with the remaining two races at the British RAC Tourist Trophy and the Italian Targa Florio, although they were not run until September and October, several months after the catastrophe. At 125 miles an hour, "he had no chance to do so himself.". Filmmaker Quentin Baillieux paints a picture of sport and tragedy at Circuit de la Sarthe. As the Austin-Healey moved across the road, Levegh raised his hand. . One spectator actually recorded the crash head-on. It ended with the usual champagne, as well. Showing Editorial results for le mans 1955. Tony Rolt and other drivers had been raising concerns about the pit straight since 1953. Fast forward two hours and 26 minutes later, and disaster struck. Once it was extinguished, there was nothing left but the frame. 776 60 60 comments Best Add a Comment 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. 1950s, accident & disaster, event & history, footage & video, france, Le Mans, sports, vehicles Levegh rear-ended Macklin at high speed, overriding Macklins car and launching his own car through the air. 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. The car overturned and exploded in flames following impact, killing Enjolras instantly. The French press, who knew better than most how awful the crash had been, scorned Hawthorn, blamed him for the crash, and in disgust carried pictures of him celebrating after the race, as the BBC reports. 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. The circuit goes through a dedicated section of the racing track too. Below is that interview in full. Levegh and competitor Mike Hawthorn were running near each other at the beginning of the pit lane when Hawthorn slowed for a pit stop. [15][8] The Jaguar team in turn questioned the fitness and competence of Macklin and Levegh as drivers. One of the main shortcomings of the Circuit de la Sarthe as at the period of the disaster was that there were no barriers between the pit stop and the racecourse, and every sudden pit stop by a driver was a heart in the mouth moment as any minor collision could result in something fatal. Large pieces of debris flew into the crowd, killing 83 spectators and French driver Pierre Levegh, and injuring nearly 180 more. [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. Vintage Everyday They use them to cover one of the bodies in the road. They argued that if the accident was announced, panic might sweep through the spectators and flood the streets, and that will make crowd control extreme and might have made rescue efforts very difficult. The crash was right in front of a densely packed crowd and grandstands, protected by nothing more than a few hay bales. It had been Levegh's unprecedented solo drive in the 1952 race that failed in the last hour, which allowed Mercedes-Benz their first Le Mans victory. The cars continued to zoom around the massive 8.383-mile circuit as emergency morgues were set up and ambulances ferried the walking wounded to hospitals. The importance of the crash is not how two cars crashed into each other. All he did was turn in abruptly. When he finally made it into the pits again, past what was then the scene of the crash, tears were streaming down his face. Le Mans, France: The wreckage of the death car and bodies of some of the victims felled by the explosion on Saturday. Search instead in Creative? Lance Macklin, who had just been lapped in his slower Austin-Healey moved across to avoid Hawthorn and Levegh ran into the back of his car. Five days after his accident, Hansgen died in the American military hospital of Orlans, France, where he had been admitted. . . 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. By year [ edit] References [ edit] ^ a b 24 FACTS ABOUT LE MANS' 24 HOURS At Arnage during the final hours of the race, Marchal's Aston Martin spun while attempting to pass another competitor. Neubauer limited himself to suggesting improvements to the pit straight and making pit-stops safer. There was the inevitable finger-pointing as to whose fault this event was, but everyone was absolved of blame after a thorough investigation. 0. 312 Le Mans 1955 Photos and Premium High Res Pictures - Getty Images CREATIVE EDITORIAL All Sports Entertainment News Archival Browse 312 le mans 1955 stock photos and images available or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. The alloy burst into white-hot flames, showering the track and crowd with magnesium embers, made worse by rescue workers unfamiliar with magnesium fires who poured water onto the inferno, greatly intensifying the fire. In the United States, the American Automobile Association (AAA) dissolved their Contest Board that had been the primary sanctioning body for motorsport in the US (including the Indianapolis 500) since 1904. The Mercedes trucks were packed up and gone by morning. Neubauer got the French authorities to test residual fuel left in the wrecks fuel injection and the result vindicated the company. Just behind Hawthorn was a much slower Austin-Healey, actually a lap down on Hawthorn. In the end the enquiry ruled that no specific driver was responsible for the crash, and that it was merely a terrible racing incident. 1955 Le Mans Disaster killed 84 people plus nearly 180 injuries when a driver slowed to make a pit stop causing the cars around him to serve. During trials the veteran. 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. 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). 1955 le mans hi-res stock photography and images - Alamy However, an inopportune press photograph showed Hawthorn smiling on the podium swigging from the victors bottle of champagne. In the United States, the American Automobile Association (AAA) dissolved their Contest Board that had been the primary sanctioning body for motorsport in the U.S. (including the Indianapolis 500) since 1904. In all, a total of 22 drivers have died in and around the Circuit de la Sarthe,[1] with more than half occurring along the circuit's Mulsanne Straight. Levegh rear-ended Macklin at high speed, overriding Macklin's car and launching his own car through the air. Sixty started, but only 21 finished, with Britains Mike Hawthorn the winner in a Jaguar. Boards are the best place to save images and video clips. He took the racing name Pierre Levegh [lvk] in memory of his uncle, a pioneering driver who died in 1904. 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 [25], Opinions differed widely amongst the other drivers as to who was directly to blame for the crash, and such differences remain even today. 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. Most spectators at the race were still oblivious to the accident that just happened. Levegh's wife was inconsolable and Fitch stayed with her until she could be comforted. [14] Levegh's lifeless body, severely burned, lay in full view on the pavement until a gendarme hauled down a banner to cover it. One British race report praised the variety of the field representing "a United Nations of motor racing." Here's What Happened At The Tragic 1955 Le Mans Disaster - HotCars 63 1955 LE MANS DISASTER Premium High Res Photos Here you can see the damage it took and how it could've acted like a ramp. He recalled: "The scene on the other side of the road was indescribable. Le Mans 1955 Photos and Premium High Res Pictures - Getty Images In the middle as many as 130 died in the most horrific disaster in. Dveloppez votre marque de manire authentique en partageant son contenu avec tous les crateurs Internet. The engine and front axle cut a swath like an artillery barrage. The doctor laid the boy in his car. 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. Le Mans, France: Rescue workers pursue the grim task of . Les tableaux sont le meilleur endroit pour sauvegarder des images et des vidos. Tap into Getty Images' global scale, data-driven insights, and network of more than 340,000 creators to create content exclusively for your brand. And the car's magnesium body burst into flames like a torch, burning others to death..