From the archives of Bob Montgomery, motoring historian.
THE LE MANS TRAGEDY: Fifty years ago, on June 11th 1955, the greatest tragedy in the entire history of motor sport occurred just two and a half hours into the Le Mans 24 Hour race. A Mercedes 300 SLR driven by the French veteran Pierre Levagh hit an Austin Healey 100 S and, as a result, flew off the road to disintegrate against the earth and wattle bank opposite the pits beside the start/finish area.
The front assembly and engine of the Mercedes cut its way through a mass of highly-packed spectators killing 80 and injuring seriously many, many more.
The tragedy was not one for which anyone could be blamed - it was simply a racing accident - and the race authorities allowed the race to continue. The resulting outcry led to the temporary banning of motorsport in several countries. Even the Vatican added its voice against its continuance.
However, once safety measures had been re-appraised, motor racing recommenced in every country except Switzerland, where it remains banned to this day.
In Ireland, many were rightly horrified by the accident and by a tragedy at the Tourist Trophy race at the Dundrod circuit the following September which led to the end of that historic race.
Prior to the tragedy at Le Mans, the Grand Prix d'Endurance had produced a most interesting race. Mercedes had entered a team of 300SLRs, all fitted with an innovative air-brake to aid their drum brakes in the expected fight against the Jaguar team whose D-types were all fitted with the superior disc brakes.
Ferrari entered three 4.4 litre sixes, Maserati two 3 litre cars and Aston Martin three 2.9 litre cars. The contest would be fought out among these players.
From the start it was Ferrari (Castellotti) leading Fangio - in a Mercedes - ahead of the Jaguar of Mike Hawthorn. A titanic duel began between Fangio and Hawthorn which soon took them far ahead of the Ferrari. Passing and re-passing each other, the duo continuously broke the lap record: indeed, their race average after two hours was faster than the previous year's lap record.
Poor Levagh's accident occurred just as the first routine pit stops were taking place and in the confusion the Rolt/Hamilton Jaguar assumed the lead. Fangio, partnered by Moss, re-took the lead but at 2 am the Mercedes were withdrawn on orders from Stuttgart. This left the Jaguar shared by Hawthorn and Ivor Bueb in command.
The race's closing hours were run in a dismal downpour with few changes of position among the 21 remaining cars. Clearly, they wanted nothing more than that this tragic race should end.
When it did, it was a hollow victory for Hawthorn and Bueb, despite the fact that they did so at a record average speed. Not surprisingly, the finish was a very muted affair. All present must have been aware that motorsport faced an uncertain future - only then was the true scope of the tragedy becoming apparent to those present.
The fact that the race authorities had allowed the race to continue came in for heavy criticism but, as Charles Faroux explained, to halt the race would have loosed 200,000 spectators and made it impossible for the emergency services to operate.
The hapless Levagh died in the crash, his last action a hand signal to Fangio which the Argentinian driver claimed allowed him to react to the unfolding accident in time and saved his life.