The driver (Pierre Levegh) was killed, as were 83 spectators. Just as the race was having the average pedestrian pace for a car race, there was an accident that changed the cause of motorsports history. 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. Le Mans, France: The wreckage of the death car and bodies of some of the victims felled by the explosion on Saturday. [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. The car, lying on the track, was then hit by the Ferrari of, As the car was thrown off balance over the hump on the. In total, two drivers died in the 1920s, another two in the 1930s, one in the 1940s, five in the 1950s, six in the 1960s, two in the 1970s, two in the 1980s, one in the 1990s, none in the 2000s, and one in the 2010s. 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. 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. This is another in the series made by US soldier Jimmy Prickett of Electra, Texas. As the Austin-Healey moved across the road, Levegh raised his hand. 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. Fifty-nine years ago, the 1955 Le Mans 24-hour race started like any other. On lap 35, Hawthorn and Fangio were racing as hard as ever. Le Mans, France: The wreckage of the death car and bodies . Copyright 2023 | WordPress Theme by MH Themes, 40 Amazing Photos of 17th and 18th Century Buildings in Eastern Massachusetts, Historys Oldest Color Photos Show How The World Looked Like A Century Ago, Jean Harlow in Publicity Portraits for Hells Angels, Taken Late 1929. 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. Fangio never raced at Le Mans again. Large pieces of debris flew into the crowd, killing 83 spectators and French driver Pierre Levegh, and injuring nearly 180 more. Cole was thrown from the car and died at the scene. The weather had closed in on Sunday morning and there was no victory celebration. Organise, control, distribute, and measure all of your digital content. 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. Large pieces of debris flew into the crowd, killing 83 spectators and French driver Pierre Levegh, and injuring nearly 180 more. Look at how dense the crowd was. We may earn a commission from links on this page. While all of this unfolded, the race continued. 1955 - the Le Mans Crash in 90+ pictures from the Mike Hawthorn Tribute Site. (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. ". Levegh was thrown from the car and killed, while burning pieces of the car were flung into the crowd and caught fire, killing 83 others. This put him into the path of Levegh's Mercedes, closing in at over 200km/h (120mph), intent on doing another lap and in front of Fangio, who was patiently waiting to pass. 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. Cole was killed when his Ferrari left the road, impacting one of several farm houses lining the road at Maison Blanche. Grow your brand authentically by sharing brand content with the internets creators. In the middle as many as 130 died in the most horrific disaster in motorsports history. The Jaguar team in turn questioned the fitness and competence of Macklin and Levegh as 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. [9][14], The critical kink in the road put the car on a direct trajectory toward the packed terraces and grandstand. The AP reports that they were trying to beat out the flames on Levegh. "He pulled across in front of me, and then I remember being surprised to see his brake lights come on. From the pits, they couldn't get across to the wreck, and it was hard to tell how bad everything was. (AP Photo/Jimmy Prickett). It ended with the usual champagne, as well. Levegh would die before sunset. [32][33] In 2015, the ban was relaxed for electric vehicles only, such as cars involved in Formula E electric racing. As a contemporary issue of LIFE states, it was to signal to Fangio behind him to slow down. The wreckage was examined and tested and, finally, returned to Mercedes-Benz nearly 12 months after the catastrophe. 2023 Getty Images. That was my first thought. 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. 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. Jaguar driver Duncan Hamilton, watching from the pit wall, recalled, The scene on the other side of the road was indescribable. A special Mass was held in the morning in the Le Mans Cathedral for the first funerals of the victims. The most recent death is Allan Simonsen, who died in the race of 2013. Mike-Hawthorn.org.uk hosts right here a 1993 report on the race, and includes a comment from 'Lofty' England, the Jaguar team boss. (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. The images may be black and white but even the faded frames of a tragedy 65 years ago still pack a powerful punch. Pierre Levegh, aged 49, had been hired by Mercedes-Benz . 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. [14][9] As a result, the car burned for several hours. Tap into Getty Images' global scale, data-driven insights, and network of more than 340,000 creators to create content exclusively for your brand. Additional details emerged when the stills reviewed by Frre were converted to video form. After his victory, Hawthorn celebrated with champagne. There was much debate over blame for the disaster. The pieces of the Mercedes ripped through the crowd, crushing and decapitating. 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. France kept the ban until they they made safety improvements to the tracks, such as breaking down the grandstands at the crash site. The official government inquiry into the accident called officials, drivers, and team personnel to be questioned and give evidence. 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 only people on and around the podium that day who had mixed emotions at the race end were either race officials who were trying (and failing) to put on a faade for the camera and were grateful for an end to a disastrous race or other workers at the Le Mans circuit who had no stake in the race. Most spectators at the race were still oblivious to the accident that just happened. 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. [25][16][29][3] It has remained the most catastrophic crash in motorsport history. "He came alongside me, and I gave him the thumbs-up sign as he overtook me to wish him luck. The 1955 Le Mans disaster occurred during the 24 Hours of Le Mans motor race in Le Mans, France in June 1955, when a crash caused large fragments of debris to fly into the crowd. That said, many contemporary race reports treat the crash unbelievably mildly. 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. The car landed on the earthen embankment between the spectators and the track, bounced, then slammed into a concrete stairwell structure and disintegrated. Extricating the Dead and Dying. It commemorates the deadliest accident in motorsport history, which took place at the 24 Hours of Le Mans race on June 11, 1955. died when he crashed into an insufficiently protected tree, crashed and nearly careened over a low wall into a large row of photographers. By clicking on 'Sign Up' you will be the first to know about our latest and best sporting content on this browser. Browse 305 le mans 1955 stock photos and images available or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. They use them to cover one of the bodies in the road. Collect, curate and comment on your files. 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. 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. 2023 Getty Images. Levegh died in the 1955 Le Mans disaster which also killed 83 spectators during the 1955 24 Hours of Le Mans automobile race. 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. Millions of high-quality images, video, and music options are waiting for you. [30], Most countries lifted their racing bans within a year after the disaster. The Le Mans organizers did not actually stop the race. Levegh and competitor Mike Hawthorn were running near each other at the beginning of the pit lane when Hawthorn slowed for a pit stop. It is one part of the Triple Crown of Motorsport, including the Indianapolis 500 and the Monaco Grand Prix. The grandstand was demolished and rebuilt with new spectator terraces and a wide ditch between them and the racetrack. 312 Le Mans 1955 Photos and Premium High Res Pictures - Getty Images 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. 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 pits complex was pulled down and rebuilt, giving more room to the teams, but thereby limiting spaces to only 52 starters rather than the previous 60. Les tableaux sont le meilleur endroit pour sauvegarder des images et des vidos. The next round of the World Sportscar Championship at the Nrburgring was cancelled, as was the non-championship Carrera Panamericana. Even then, it took hours for that Mercedes boss to reach his superiors and get their approval to withdraw their cars. The French magazine LAuto-Journal published it with the sarcastic caption, votre sant, Monsieur Hawthorn! (In English, To your health (Cheers), Mr. Hawthorn!). It remains the worst disaster in motorsports history. Accdez au meilleur de Getty Images avec un simple abonnement. 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 Austin-Healey spun into the wall, killing one spectator but leaving its driver unharmed. Boards are the best place to save images and video clips. 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. This was indeed one of the most terrible accidents in the early decades of motorsports. 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's easy to find reports of the crash today that talk about how desensitized the public was to the crash. Jaguar went on to win the race. But it's wrong to try and point fingers. 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. 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. Five days after his accident, Hansgen died in the American military hospital of Orlans, France, where he had been admitted. Macklin moves over to the right to let him pass. These are all that are available to Jalopnik. [25][3] Tony Rolt and other drivers had been raising concerns about the pit straight since 1953. It was the turning point in the industry as considerable changes were made towards improving the safety of drivers and spectators. [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. [31] In contrast, Switzerland's ban, which also extended to the running of timed motorsports such as hillclimbs, was not quickly lifted. [2] Sixteen during the race itself, five during pre-race practice and testing sessions, and one en route to the race. At first you can see people running from the fire. French Memorial Site. Supposedly they were concerned that crowds of people leaving the track would keep ambulances from getting to those in need. Amateur driver Kippeurth lost control of his. Everything slows right down as if you were watching a slow-motion film. Search instead in Creative? At the time, it took over six hours for the team to withdraw its cars. Here you can see the damage it took and how it could've acted like a ramp. Eighty-three spectators and driver Pierre Levegh perished at the scene with 120 more injured in the most catastrophic accident in motorsport history Bueb in particular was very reluctant, but given Hawthorn's condition had no choice, as Dewis firmly pointed out to him.[3]. 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. 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. Neubauer limited himself to suggesting improvements to the pit straight and making pit-stops safer. The dead and dying were everywhere; the cries of pain, anguish, and despair screamed catastrophe. [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. The Ferraris, current champions at the time, were very fast but fragile and prone to mechanical failure. [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 crash started when Jaguar driver Mike Hawthorn pulled to the right side of the track in front of Austin-Healey driver Lance Macklin and started braking for his pit stop. Neubauer got the French authorities to test residual fuel left in the wreck's fuel injection and the result vindicated the company. 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]. Now it's recorded that Mercedes pulled out of the race following the crash. RELATED: These Le Mans Racers Dominated The Worlds Most Famous Race. Racing fuel exploded. 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. The other team cars were being kept on tighter leashes to conserve the cars, but still racing in the top ten. Years later Fitch claimed, based on his own recollection and from what he heard from others, that Hawthorn had caused it. The discussion focused on traffic policy and environmental questions rather than on safety. Parcourez 176photos et images disponibles de. 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. Drivers run to their cars for the start of the Le Mans 24 hour race in Le Mans, France on June 11, 1955. Large. Tap into Getty Images global-scale, data-driven insights and network of over 340,000creators to create content exclusively for your brand. The investigation zeroed in on Hawthorns attempt to overtake British driver Lance Macklins Austin Healey and a sudden catastrophic decision to pit. 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. That was the exact number of spectators killed during the Le Mans disaster. 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. Both Jaguar and Mercedes-Benz issued official statements, mainly in self-defense against the accusations leveled against them and their drivers. Tirez parti du rseau mondial GettyImages, avec plus de 340 000 crateurs, pour dvelopper un contenu exclusif, cr spcialement pour votre marque. The circuit goes through a dedicated section of the racing track too. 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. In 1955 Mercedes offered Levegh the opportunity to race with John Fitch in their 300SLR sports car. The car split into three pieces. One British race report praised the variety of the field representing "a United Nations of motor racing." Levegh had no time to evade, and with possibly his last action, raised his hand, warning Fangio, thereby probably saving Fangio's life. Shortly after midnight Mercedes retired its cars from racing were running first and third. 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. . The announcer claims that the sand trap has "claimed another victim." Indeed, the German company withdrew from all motor racing at the end of that season and did not return until 1987. However, there was a return to the sport in the '90s. Access the best of Getty Images with our simple subscription plan. French magazin L'Auto-Journal published the image with the sarcastic laden caption, votre sant, Monsieur Hawthorn. ("To your health, Mr Hawthorn."). Maybe that's what makes these pictures still so very chilling. With the Mercedes team withdrawn and the Ferraris all out of commission, Jaguar's main competition had gone. In the background are the pit stalls for the racers. "[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. When the rest of Levegh's car landed on the embankment, the rear-mounted fuel tank exploded. Here he is, still in his car after crossing the finish line, reaching up for a kiss from a local girl. On the other hand: damn those Jaguar D-types look nice. 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. Being 98 years old, it is the oldest endurance racing event. Hawthorn and Bueb won the race by a margin of five laps from Aston Martin. Jaguar driver Duncan Hamilton, and a teammate of Hawthorn, watched the tragedy unfold from the pit wall. The importance of the crash is not how two cars crashed into each other. They saw the whole catastrophe unfold. 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 greatest carmakers in the world were competing, as were the best drivers. Le Mans, France: The wreckage of the death car and bodies of some of the victims felled by the explosion on Saturday. 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. [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 closing period of the preliminary practice session, Weber took an unscheduled lap of the circuit. [36], The official government inquiry into the accident called officials, drivers, and team personnel to be questioned and give evidence. 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. This became the semi-official pronouncement of the Mercedes-Benz team and Macklins story. One newsreel, minutes after describing the crash, goes on to talk about a car getting stuck in a sandy embankment. Select from premium Le Mans Disaster of the highest quality. The images may be black and white but even the faded frames of a tragedy 65 years ago still pack a powerful punch. You can read a recent interpretation from a lawyer right here for a deeper look into what it would take to assign definitive blame. World Sports Car Championship.During the race, Pierre Levegh crashed into a crowd of spectators, killing 84 (including himself) and injuring 120 in the deadliest accident in motor racing history. 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. In the current world of social distancing, it is hard to imagine the crowd of. Levegh rear-ended Macklin at high speed, overriding Macklin's car and launching his own car through the air. "The hood decapitated tightly jammed spectators like a guillotine. . Registered in Ireland: 523712. The crash started when Jaguar driver Mike Hawthorn pulled to the right side of the track in front of Austin-Healey driver Lance Macklin and started braking for his pit stop. Just behind Hawthorn was a much slower Austin-Healey, actually a lap down on Hawthorn. 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. Another 120 were "maimed," according to current writing, though initial news stories estimated around 70. 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. The investigations and reviews of the accident continued for a year and a half afterwards. Hawthorn and his co-driver Ivor Bueb won the race the next afternoon. "Then there was a hell of a bang like a bomb had hit.". The deadliest crash ever in motor sports history happened in Le Mans, France, on June 12, 1955. 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. "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. 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. Macklin claimed that Hawthorns move to the pits was sudden, causing an emergency that led him to swerve into Leveghs path. [14] The bonnet lid scythed through the air, "decapitating tightly jammed spectators like a guillotine. Millions of high-quality images, video, and music options await you. This would be unbelievably flippant today. Pierre Eugne Alfred Bouillin (22 December 1905 - 11 June 1955) was a French sportsman and racing driver. Chief engineer Rudolf Uhlenhaut had gone to the Jaguar pits to ask if the Jaguar team would respond in kind, out of respect for the crash victims. 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.