..And probably repeated on various BBC channels, looks well worth watching/recording..

' Deadliest Crash: The Le Mans 1955 Disaster '

Documentary examining what caused Pierre Levegh's Mercedes to crash into the crowd during the 1955 Le Mans 24-hour race, killing 83 people and injuring a further 120 - an incident that remains the worst accident in the history of motor racing. Among the theories discussed are the use of untested technologies by the car's manufacturers, the addition of a lethal fuel additive, and possible reckless driving by the race's eventual winner - future Formula One world champion Mike Hawthorn. Narrated by Jack Deam

Documentary

BBC4 9:00pm-10:00pm

Watched it. Very good, if slightly upsetting..

With the note that I didn't watch the documentary, and that all principals are dead, so won't be sueing for libel any time soon!

At that time (and for some years afterwards, see the Steve McQueen film "Le Mans" which uses the same track and pits layout, and driving conventions), the Le Mans pits were trackside, open fronted and on the right side of the pit straight and it was conventional for drivers in all but the very fastest cars to keep right on the longer straights to allow faster cars to overtake in a predictable manner.

What happened was like this:-

Lance Macklin (Austin Healey) was passing the pits on the right side of the road, when Mike Hawthorn (Jaguar D-type) pulled in front of him under heavy braking to enter the pits. Lance braked, but his Healey didn't have the braking power of the Jag, so he pulled left to avoid hitting the Jag up the tail and punting it into pits full of petrol. Unfortunately, this took his low-tailed AH into the path of Pierre Levaugh's Mercedes 300SLR. Interestingly, at least one "eye-witness" account of the aftermath is known to have been written by a man who was had actually spent all day getting soused in a bar in Le Mans town!

Edited 17 May, 201016 yr by KenONeill

Saw this and was slightly dissapointed acually - most of the interviews and build-up were good and it was obviously very harrowing for those involved. However, the "rebuilt" footage that was supposed to be shown lasted all of 3 seconds with no explanation as to how it was done etc. and what new evidence it gave over and above that described above...

Not saying that it was bad - just that , as a documentary, it could have been so much better...

Edited 17 May, 201016 yr by skomaz

watched it good programme