The 24 hour LeMans is one of the races the sports car endurance bigger and famous around the world. It is also one of the oldest still in operation. The idea of a 24 hours in the car was intended as a test of reliability and endurance of man and machine to maintain high speed is one of twenty-four hours during a demanding place. Is an annual event which takes place in the vicinity of LeMans in France. While accidents in the motor race are together, none have the terrible incident immediately, occurred in the 1955 event. Two factors are of primary importance in a race car driver’s ability and the quality of the car.

The 1955 race would soon a duel between British Jaguar d-type and the Mercedes crowd. Germany spent much time and effort in the preparation of registration, however, the car had a weak point. It was with drum brakes, equipped, while the British had disc brakes, by to make him a advantage of rapid braking. After about two hours of competition, the British pilot, decided a pit stop, Mike Hawthorn, slow down and stop to make his car. Lance Macklin, riding on the back of hawthorn, hit the brakes and moved to the left. Pierre Levegh, which later raised his arm, Macklin, to slow down to signal Juan Fangio. Levegh’s car, too fast, brakes then you hit Macklin and from the side on an embankment, landing snap. Somersaults and then along the River Road as the body which ignited the magnesium and spread flames everywhere.

How was the car flew parts into the crowd. A number of viewers was beheaded by the hood. Some were of parts fly killed and others were burned to death. Figures on the number of people killed and injured disagree, but seventy eighty three were reported killed and injured at least 76. Macklin’s car on the track around spun and meet killing mechanic ditch. Macklin could walk away from the crash. Fangio later expressed his gratitude for the signal to Levegh, credited to the signal with his life. It is a bit prophetic Levegh had declared just before a race, “We need a way of signalling system;” “Our cars are too fast.”

The organizers decided to race as they were more afraid that if you are stopped, the crowd of people from the grandstand would create traffic would disturb the work of the ambulance and fire truck. When Word of the accident has reached Germany, respect Levegh authorities moved their other teams. Hawthorn, finally won the contest. But there were many, the blame be brakes to initiate the chain of events that caused the carnage. But an official investigation took place after the accident blamed disabled him and called it “an incident of the race.”

However, the incident had a profound effect on the race. The ban on the sport implements some European countries. France spent more than $ 600,000 to improve the course. New regulations establishes restrictions on engine size, limit the time that a driver could be behind the wheel and specifying the number of drivers on a team all took place before the race in 1956.