Deadliest crash is a three years in the making documentary looking at the tragic events of the 1955 le mans disaster the worst crash in motor racing history. Listen to the crash bang wallop podcast episodes free, on demand. Some nice shots of mike at the beginning and, of course, his winning efforts in the jaguar dtype, xkd 505. On june 11, 1955, at the le mans 24hour race, at least 83 spectators were killed and hundreds more injured when the burning remains of pierre leveghs mercedes 300slr, flew into the crowd after a crash with mike hawthorn on the pit straight. Fiftynine years ago, the 1955 le mans 24hour race started like any other. Just how horrifying was the worst crash in motorsports, le. The deadliest crash ever in motor sports history happened in le. With 83 deaths it remains deadliest crash in racing. The 1955 le mans disaster directed for bbc winner best documentary reportage milan ficts 2009 enjoyed it immensely well crafted, dramatically told and full of detail. This thread is about explaining the events surrounding the disaster, where sportscar racing was then and is now, and the safety features that effected. Reassembled film tells story of worst racing disaster.
If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the discussion and see lists of open tasks and regional and topical task forces. The programme tells the story of the 1955 le mans disaster in which pierre leveghs mercedes 300 slr smashed into the crowd, killing 83 people and injuring 120 more. Its le mans, france and a quarter of a million people have turned out to watch one of the most boring sporting events on the planet the le mans 24 hour. How racings deadliest crash haunts this 1956 le mans lap. It also does not delve into the politicalsocialmoral repercussions. You can also watch the video requires realplayer that the stills were derived from if you wish.
The disaster is looked at using a variety of techniques including eye witness testimony and interview, images, cinefilm from the day and a computer generated reenactment of the final. Mercedesbenz withdrew from all motor racing at the end of the 1955. On 11th june 1955, the world of playboy racers and their exotic cars exploded in a devastating fireball. Material relating to newsreel story le mans disaster 5548. Le mans motor racing disaster 1955 british pathe youtube. It was the most catastrophic crash in motorsport history, and it. On june 11, 1955, at the le mans 24hour race, at least 83 spectators. Even though it happened more than half a century ago, the 1955 le mans disaster is still the deadliest crash in motorsport history.
It was destined to be the greatest endurance race of all time, instead the 1955 le mans became the worst disaster in motor racing history. The deadliest crash is a tv show on british national television from bbc4 with an average rating of 3. It was the most horrific, and deadliest crash in the history of motor racing. A ceremony was held to honour the lives lost 60 years ago during the 1955 running of the 24 hours of le mans. Richard klein, controller bbc 4 telling the story of the biggest tragedy in motor sports history needed an exceptionally skillful touch and this film has it. The film stays away from the gory details of the accident. The 1955 le mans disaster occurred during the 24 hours of le mans motor race, when a crash caused large fragments of racing car debris to fly. The le mans 1955 disaster is a documentary film made by bigger picture films for the bbc in 2009. The 1955 le mans tragedy is the most catastrophic accident in motor racing history. It was subsequently repeated on bbc two and bbc four. The first episode of the deadliest crash was broadcast in may, 2020.
It was originally aired on bbc four on sunday, 16 may 2010. In the following article, he examines what happened, looks at how things have changed and gives us his insight into the way such events might be investigated more than fifty years later. The 1955 le mans race was a human tragedy of major proportions. Heres coverage of 1955 le mans in colour via youtube, produced by the standard motor co, all done in just over 9 minutes. During the race, pierre levegh crashed into a crowd of spectators, killing 84 and injuring 120 in the deadliest accident in motor racing history. On june 11th on the home straight, stirling mosss codriver fangio, pierre levegh. Le mans disaster claims 77 lives seventyseven people have been killed and 77 others injured when two cars collided on the race track and crashed into the spectators stand at le mans in northwest france. The tragic 1955 le mans accident is now so ingrained in motor sport history that those who know the terrible story formed their own opinions long ago as to exactly what happened and why.
Eightythree spectators and driver pierre levegh died and 120 more were injured in the most catastrophic accident in motorsport history. Velocity airs an indepth look at the 1955 crash at lemans. The worst accident in motorsports history 1955 le mans. Documentary about the 1955 le mans 24hour race in which pierre leveghs mercedes went into the crowd killing 83 and injuring 120, the worst disaster in. Bbc on 11th june 1955, the world of playboy racers and their exotic cars exploded in a devastating fireball. You might think there was no more to know, but you would be wrong brian laban. Release dates 1 also known as aka 0 release dates uk 2010. We have 8 episodes of the deadliest crash in our archive. The programme tells the story of the 1955 le mans disaster in which pierre levegh s mercedes 300 slr smashed into.
On the home straight early in the le mans 24hour race, future world champion mike hawthorn made a mistake and pulled the trigger to a massacre. The worst accident in motorsports history 1955 le mans disaster. Newly found footage puts blame on british driver for a 1955 disaster that killed up to 120 at le mans. 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. Le mans 1955 accident raw footages of the crash in hd read description. I am just a simple computer program, so i cant determine whether minor differences are significant or not. Shortly after the crash the mercedes manager instructed the two remaining mercedes to withdraw from the race as a mark of respect to those killed in the disaster. The 1955 le mans tragedy 10 tragedies caught on film. The 1955 le mans became a gruelling, thrilling duel between hawthorn in his jaguar, and fangio in his mercedes. If youre a really keen follower then youll have read hawthorns autobiography and macklins memoirs as well as countless other recollections of the disaster.
Packed crowds watched intently as the cars zoomed by, until the fateful moment struck. Reassembled film tells story of worst racing disaster motor sport. Series 1 episode 1 the worst disaster in motor racing history occurred at the 1955 24 hours of le mans, in which french driver pierre levegh and 83 spectators died. A major crash caused large fragments of debris to fly into the crowd, killing 83 spectators and french driver pierre bouillin who raced under the name pierre levegh and injuring nearly 180 more. Jun 11, 2016 the le mans 1955 crash, the crash that changed the face of motor racing.
Pierre leveghs mercedes crashed and blew up at 125mph. Deadliest crash the 1955 le mans disaster dvd for sale. Jul 10, 2012 the worst disaster in motor racing history occurred early in the 1955 le mans 24hour race when pierre leveghs mercedes 300 slr left exploded and smashed into the crowd, killing 83 people. The 1955 le mans disaster 2010 tv movie release info. It was destined to be the greatest endurance race of all time. David greenhalgh is a professional lawyer, and has written in his native australia about the le mans disaster of 1955. This article is within the scope of wikiproject film. Also known as aka it looks like we dont have any akas for this title yet. To use this banner, please refer to the documentation. Rich heap for bigger picture 2009 the worlds biggest motorsport disaster told by eye witnesses using never seen before home movies and stills. It was destined to be the greatest endurance race of all time, instead the 1955 lemans became the worst disaster in motor racing history. Above all, perhaps, we should remember the personal grief and pain suffered by those directly involved the illfated spectators, and the sadness which may still linger today among their surviving relatives.
Mike hawthorn wasnt just determined to do well in the race. Disaster at le mans the worst disaster in motor racing history occurred at the 1955 24 hours of le mans, in which french driver pierre levegh and. What was supposed to be another great day in motor sports history when the le mans 24h took off, no one could have expected this turned out to be a day that changed the face of motor racing. Unusual film exploring images of war and peace some nice footage a hippie feel to the film.
Pierre leveghs mercedes crashed and blew up at 125mph, killing levegh and sending debris flying in to the crowd at the 24 hours of le mans. Exploring the personalities and technology involved in the 1955 le mans disaster, which cost the lives of 83 spectators. Apr 27, 20 david greenhalgh is a professional lawyer, and has written in his native australia about the le mans disaster of 1955. Jun 07, 2012 velocity airs an indepth look at the 1955 crash at lemans. Initially, the cause of the disaster was shrouded in mystery, and conspiracy theories abounded. The story of the biggest tragedy in motorsports history needed an exceptionally skillful touch. The worst disaster in motor racing history occurred at the 1955 24 hours of le mans, in which french driver pierre levegh and. Reassembled film tells story of worst racing disaster motor. This is the wreck that made auto racing illegal in the entire country of switzerland for the next 60 years. Le mans 1955 accident raw footages of the crash in hd. He was particularly determined to take mercedes down a peg or two. How racings deadliest crash haunts this 1956 le mans lap vintage film shows mike hawthorn narrating as he drives his jaguar dtype around le mans, secretly referencing the deadliest crash. The rivalry that caused the deadliest crash in motorsport. In the middle as many as died in the most horrific disaster in.
Youll also have seen the very clear photos and the grainy old footage of the crash. On this day 77 people were killed in le mans in the worst motor racing accident of the era. We found subtitles for the program the deadliest crash. Many believe this incident ruined both hawthorn and macklins lives. Sport motor racing the rivalry that caused the deadliest crash in motorsport newly found footage puts blame on british driver for a 1955 disaster that killed up to 120 at le mans. Disaster at le mans the worst disaster in motor racing history occurred at the 1955 24 hours of le mans, in which french driver pierre levegh and 83 spectators died. The deadliest crash the 1955 le mans disaster 2010. Stub this article has been rated as stubclass on the projects. The tragic 1955 le mans accident is now so ingrained in motor sport history that those who know the terrible story formed their own opinions long ago as to. This weekend le mans reflected on the front stretch the worst tragedy in motorsports.
In what rich, champagnespraying playboys are already toasting as the 28th lap of the cb wallop podcast, join phil jerrod and phil lucas as they discuss the le. I apologize if any of the above are effectively identical. The definitive book on the crash at 1955 le mans race the 1955 le mans crash killed over 80 people and is, as far as i know, the most deadly crash in racing history. The deadliest accident in motorsport history duration. A country banned auto racing because of news about a wreck in a different country. If youre a le mans follower then youll know about the tragedy of the 1955 race. It occurred during the 1955 24 hours of le mans motor race in france and claimed the lives of 84 people of whom 83 were spectators. Deadliest crash the 1955 le mans disaster bigger picture bbc. To improve this article, please refer to the guidelines. The rivalry that caused the deadliest crash in motorsport the. A new film called deadliest crash provides a balanced and intelligent view of events that day, when pierre leveghs mercedes crashed into the crowd, killing. Tragedy struck the racing world on 11th june 1995, when early in the le mans 24hour race, french driver pierre leveghs mercedes 300 slr crashed into the crowd, erupting into a fireball and killing 38 people. In the following article, he examines what happened, looks at how things have changed and gives us his insight into the way such events. Instead the 1955 le mans became the worst disaster in motor racing history.
French motor racing track is reconstructed after this years tragic disaster. The worst disaster in motor racing history occurred early in the 1955 le mans 24hour race when pierre leveghs mercedes 300 slr left exploded. Reckless british playboy behind motor racings biggest. This sporting tragedy is the most catastrophic accident in motor racing history. Documentary about the 1955 le mans 24hour race in which pierre leveghs mercedes went into the. This is how the manchester guardian reported the events. On june 11th on the home straight, stirling mosss codriver fangio, pierre levegh, lance macklin and future british world champion mike hawthorn became embroiled in a disaster of unprecedented scale. Jun 12, 2011 the definitive book on the crash at 1955 le mans race the 1955 le mans crash killed over 80 people and is, as far as i know, the most deadly crash in racing history. Pierre leveghs mercedes crashed and blew up at 125mph, killing levegh and sending debris flying in to the crowd. The mercedesbenz being driven by pierre levegh hit the bank by the grandstand and immediately exploded. Documentary about the 1955 le mans 24hour race in which pierre leveghs mercedes went into the crowd killing 83 and injuring 120, the worst.