In its silence, you sense the horror of what's being recorded. If you would like to manage your push notification preferences, you can do so here. The most recent death is Allan Simonsen, who died in the race of 2013. Here he is, still in his car after crossing the finish line, reaching up for a kiss from a local girl. It was the turning point in the industry as considerable changes were made towards improving the safety of drivers and spectators. The Getty Images design is a trademark of Getty Images. The death of the spectators was blamed on inadequate safety standards for the track design. Large. The grandstand was demolished and rebuilt with new spectator terraces and a wide ditch between them and the racetrack. 63 1955 Le Mans Disaster Photos and Premium High Res Pictures - Getty Images Images Editorial Video Creative Editorial FILTERS CREATIVE EDITORIAL VIDEO 63 1955 LE MANS DISASTER Premium High Res Photos Browse 63 1955 LE MANS DISASTER stock photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. 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. As a contemporary issue of LIFE states, it was to signal to Fangio behind him to slow down. It was the most catastrophic crash in motorsport history, and it prompted Mercedes-Benz to withdraw from motor racing until 1989. The main aim of the competition is basically to test the endurance of sports cars. In the current world of social distancing, it is hard to imagine the crowd of spectators who had squeezed into Le Mans on the afternoon of June 11, 1955. When Mercedes pulled out, they approached the Jaguar team. When he pit stopped during the next lap, he staggered out of the car completely distraught, adamant that he had caused the catastrophe. The engine and front axle cut a swath like an artillery barrage. The '55 Le Mans race looked like it would be one of the greatest since WWII. 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). Showing Editorial results for le mans 1955. It ended with the usual champagne, as well. The wreckage was examined and tested and, finally, returned to Mercedes-Benz nearly 12 months after the catastrophe. 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. RELATED: 10 Of The Coolest Le Mans Prototypes No One Remembers. The images may be black and white but even the faded frames of a tragedy 65 years ago still pack a powerful punch. So abruptly that he ended up missing his garage space and was ordered to do another lap to make it back around since backing up wasn't allowed. 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 protagonists were Pierre Levegh representing Mercedes, Mike Hawthorn driving for Jaguar, and Lance Macklin of the Austin-Healey team. 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. Browse 312 le mans 1955 stock photos and images available or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. The 24 Hours of Le Mans is safer, much safer, than it was in 1955, but it is still a deadly track. Collect, curate and comment on your files. 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. In 2003, the Federal Assembly of Switzerland started a lengthy discussion about whether this ban should be lifted. 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. The weather had closed in on Sunday morning and there was no victory celebration. I stood as if in a dream, too horrified to even think."[17][18]. 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. 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. The accident happened at 6:26 pm, at the end of lap 35, when the first pit stops for the leading cars were starting. [3], Jaguar driver Duncan Hamilton, watching from the pit wall, recalled, "The scene on the other side of the road was indescribable. 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. They saw the whole catastrophe unfold. 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. Police managed to drag the Austin-Healey to the other side of the track. That was my first thought. However, an inopportune press photograph showed Hawthorn smiling on the podium swigging from the victors bottle of champagne. Tap into Getty Images global-scale, data-driven insights and network of over 340,000creators to create content exclusively for your brand. RELATED: These Le Mans Racers Dominated The Worlds Most Famous Race. A police officer helps carry out an injured man, dazed. 2023 Getty Images. Entering the straight, his Matra veered off the inside of the track and exploded into flames. We may earn a commission from links on this page. That being said, while the Audi successfully protected its driver, it hit an unprotected, hard wall. Tony Rolt and other drivers had been raising concerns about the pit straight since 1953. Streamline your workflow with our best-in-class digital asset management system. The discussion focused on traffic policy and environmental questions rather than on safety. There is no question that racing cars today are almost infinitely safer than those of 1955. Only two cars were involved in the disaster. 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. [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 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. "Then there was a hell of a bang like a bomb had hit.". 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. 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. The dead and dying were everywhere; the cries of pain, anguish, and despair screamed catastrophe. One of the major news stories after the 1955 Le Mans disaster was the retirement of Mercedes-Benz from future races. Other observers estimated the toll to be much higher. But you quickly start to see people running towards the smoldering wreck, hoping to rescue anyone still alive. Macklin survived the incident without serious injury, jumping out of the wreck and over the bank. All he did was turn in abruptly. Fitch said that in light of "recent unpleasantness," Mercedes "should not win this race over the bodies of however many.. French people." He lost control of the car three hours later in the early morning whilst approaching the Arnage esses and veered off the track on the left side and collided with an oak tree, killing the driver almost instantly with massive head and chest injuries. The death of the spectators was blamed on inadequate safety standards for the track design. His car skidded off the road on a wet British highway in 1959. Levegh died in the 1955 Le Mans disaster which also killed 83 spectators during the 1955 24 Hours of Le Mans automobile race. Le Mans, France: Rescue workers pursue the grim task of . 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. It's easy to find reports of the crash today that talk about how desensitized the public was to the crash. The circuit goes through a dedicated section of the racing track too. 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. At exactly 4:00pm, the race began with the normal pace expected, with some of the big wigs such as Mercedes-Benz having a slow start and falling behind lesser-known names. Stewart's campaign gained momentum after the deaths of Lorenzo Bandini and Jim Clark. He recalled: "The scene on the other side of the road was indescribable. 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). Rassembler, slectionner et commenter vos fichiers. The 1955 Le Mans disaster occurred during the 24 Hours of Le Mans motor race at Circuit de la Sarthe in Le Mans, France on June 11, 1955. "[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. ", Get the latest news from the world of sport along with the best opinion from our outstanding team of sport writers, direct to your inbox every Friday. [14][18] When he got to the media centre to use a telephone, he got his first inkling of the sheer enormity of the disaster, overhearing a reporter filing that 48 deaths were already confirmed. "He pulled across in front of me, and then I remember being surprised to see his brake lights come on. [37][15][38] Track safety technology and practices evolved slowly until F1 driver Jackie Stewart organized a campaign to advocate for better safety measures ten years later. The wreckage was examined and tested and, finally, returned to Mercedes-Benz nearly twelve months after the catastrophe. He tried to avoid a collision with Macklin but he was too close and too fast. Pierre Levegh, aged 49, had been hired by Mercedes-Benz . At Arnage during the final hours of the race, Marchal's Aston Martin spun while attempting to pass another competitor. So what are we, in 2014, left with? (In English, "To your health ('Cheers'), Mr. With two other drivers still in the race, Mercedes-Benz continued, but after so many calls for them to abandon the meeting and with the desire to avoid a PR disaster, they pulled out of the race in the wee hours of the morning and went home. 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. Other observers estimated the toll to be much higher. There was great anticipation for the 1955 24 Hours of Le Mans, as Ferrari, Jaguar, and Mercedes-Benz had all won the race previously and all three automakers had arrived with new and improved cars. Even at the scene, it doesn't look like anyone knows what's going on. The other team cars were being kept on tighter leashes to conserve the cars, but still racing in the top ten. [25][26] Their retirement was briefly announced over the public address system. Showing Editorial results for le mans 1955. In the background are the pit stalls for the racers. 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. Car and engine bits struck the crowd as there was only a 4 foot bank between spectators and cars traveling up to 170 MPH due to a lack of safety standards. As a result, Macklin's car veered across to the centre of the track, apparently briefly out of control. At 125 miles an hour, "he had no chance to do so himself.". Here you can see the damage it took and how it could've acted like a ramp. Levegh's wife was inconsolable and Fitch stayed with her until she could be comforted. The car rolled over during the incident. Jaguar team manager "Lofty" England declined. 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. In 1969, it was bought for 155 (equivalent to 2,714 in 2021). He was not aware that a barrier had been placed across the escape lane and he crashed heavily. A special mass was held in the morning in the Le Mans Cathedral for the first funerals of the victims. Visible at left is the fire from burning Mercedes racer which careened crazily down the course, crashing into an earth barrier back of the picket fence. Millions of high-quality images, video, and music options are waiting for you. As Macklin cut towards the middle of the track, Pierre Levegh, a Mercedes-Benz driver, was approaching at a speed of close to 150 mph; Macklin's car acted as a speed ramp for Pierre catapulting the car towards the spectators. "He came alongside me, and I gave him the thumbs-up sign as he overtook me to wish him luck. 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. [3], The 1955 race began at 4pm on Saturday, and, as predicted, the lead cars of Eugenio Castellotti (Ferrari), Hawthorn (Jaguar), and Fangio (Mercedes-Benz) were at the head of the field in the first hour. Also, to a certain level to know which car makes the lowest pit stops throughout the race. Levegh's car skipped over a protective earthen berm at 200km/h (125mph) and made at least two impacts within the spectator area, the last of which caused the car to disintegrate, throwing him onto the track where he was instantly killed. The scene in the aftermath was hellish. Organise, control, distribute, and measure all of your digital content. His Mercedes Benz clipped the edge of the Austin Healey and was launched skywards. D-Type Jaguars won the Le Mans 24hr endurance race in 1955, 1956 and 1957. [36], The official government inquiry into the accident called officials, drivers, and team personnel to be questioned and give evidence. Eighty-three spectators and driver Pierre Levegh perished at the scene with 120 more injured in the most catastrophic accident in motorsport history NOJ393 after its restoration by Steve Pike and before its sale at auction by Bonhams. Three years ago, another Audi crashed and nearly careened over a low wall into a large row of photographers. 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. There was the inevitable finger-pointing as to whose fault this event was, but everyone was absolved of blame after a thorough investigation. Despite expectations for the race to be red-flagged and stopped entirely, race officials, led by race director Charles Faroux, kept the race running. 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. An American soldier at the race, Jimmy Prickett, was at the scene and took pictures immediately following the crash. 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. It remains the worst disaster in motorsports history. The crash was right in front of a densely packed crowd and grandstands, protected by nothing more than a few hay bales. [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. Thirty-five laps in the worst disaster in motorsports history unfolded. Maybe that's what makes these pictures still so very chilling. [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. The Austin-Healey spun into the wall, killing one spectator but leaving its driver unharmed. "The hood decapitated tightly jammed spectators like a guillotine. 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. Extricating the Dead and Dying. The rear of Levegh's car landed on the berm and exploded into flames. . Le Mans, France: The wreckage of the death car and bodies of some of the victims felled by the explosion on Saturday. 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Macklin swerved out from behind the slowing Jaguar into the path of Levegh, who was passing on the left in his much faster Elektron magnesium-alloy bodied Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR. It turned friends into enemies, fans into critics, and winners into losers. 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.
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