A Day That Shook The World: Le Mans 24 race disaster - History, Life & Style - The Independent
On 11 June 1955, the famous Le Mans 24-hour race ended in tragedy when a Mercedes flipped and crashed into the crowd, killing 84 people and injuring hundreds more.
The race was the fastest ever, faster than Formula 1 at the time, while safety measures were limited, especially by modern standards. Amazingly, organisers allowed the race to continue, allowing Mike Hawthorn to cruise to a subdued victory in his Jaguar.
