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Filmmaker Quentin Baillieux paints a picture of sport and tragedy at Circuit de la Sarthe. 1955 Le Mans disaster | Autopedia | Fandom 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. 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]. The deadliest crash ever in motor sports history happened in Le Mans, France, on June 12, 1955. This became the semi-official pronouncement of the Mercedes team and Macklin's story. [19][20] Team manager Alfred Neubauer had already reached the same conclusion, but did not have the authority to make such a decision. When Mercedes pulled out, they approached the Jaguar team. An American soldier at the race, Jimmy Prickett, was at the scene and took pictures immediately following the crash. Other observers estimated the toll to be much higher. I am including all of his pictures preserved by the AP, as well as all of the photographs taken by the AP itself. Le Mans, France: The wreckage of the death car and bodies of some of the victims felled by the explosion on Saturday. 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 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. 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. Le Mans 11th June 1955 - video Dailymotion This forced Swiss racing promoters to organize circuit events in foreign countries including France, Italy, and West Germany. Le Mans 1955 - The Nostalgia Forum - The Autosport Forums BBC Four - The Deadliest Crash: the Le Mans 1955 Disaster The greatest carmakers in the world were competing, as were the best drivers. I stood as if in a dream, too horrified to even think."[17][18]. France kept the ban until they they made safety improvements to the tracks, such as breaking down the grandstands at the crash site. 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. You can read a recent interpretation from a lawyer right here for a deeper look into what it would take to assign definitive blame. 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. The protagonists were Pierre Levegh representing Mercedes, Mike Hawthorn driving for Jaguar, and Lance Macklin of the Austin-Healey team. Eighty-three spectators and driver Pierre Levegh died and 120 more were injured in the most catastrophic accident in motorsport history. 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. But widen the scope of the camera, and you get a real feel that this victory had been tainted with something utterly terrible. Being 98 years old, it is the oldest endurance racing event. Le Mans Disaster 11th June 1955 - 84 Killed | Belfast Child