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1955 24 Hours of Le Mans
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Index: Races | Winners

The 1955 24 Hours of Le Mans was the 23rd Grand Prix of Endurance, and took place on June 11 and 12, 1955. It was also the fourth round of the World Sportscar Championship.

This race saw the 1955 Le Mans disaster with the death of 83 spectators and the injuring of over 100 more when Pierre Levegh's Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR was involved in an accident and flew into the crowd, killing the driver as well. After the incident, the other two Mercedes vehicles in the race were withdrawn (in leading position). This accident, the most catastrophic in motorsport history, led to great changes in the measures taken to ensure the safety of drivers and spectators. Its fallout also led to many car manufacturers pulling out of motorsport (including Mercedes), and even the temporary outlawing of circuit racing in several countries. Switzerland banned simultaneous competition between cars (i.e. except for hillclimbs), a ban which was only lifted in June 2007.[1]

The Jaguar driven by Mike Hawthorn went on to win the race.

Official results[]

Pos Class No Team Drivers Chassis Engine Laps
1 S
5.0
6 25px United Kingdom Jaguar Cars Ltd. 25px United Kingdom Mike Hawthorn
25px United Kingdom Ivor Bueb
Jaguar D-Type Jaguar 3.4L I6 307
2 S
3.0
23 25px United Kingdom Aston Martin Ltd. 25px United Kingdom Peter Collins
25px Belgium Paul Frère
Aston Martin DB3S Aston Martin 2.9L I6 302
3 S
5.0
10 25px Belgium Ecurie Francorchamps 25px Belgium Johnny Claes
25px Belgium Jacques Swaters
Jaguar D-Type Jaguar 3.4L I6 296
4 S
1.5
37 25px Germany Porsche KG 25px Germany Helmut Polensky
25px Germany Richard von Frankenberg
Porsche 550/4 RS 1500 Spyder Porsche 1.5L Flat-4 284
5 S
1.5
66 25px Belgium Equipe Nationale Belga
25px France Gustave Olivier
25px Germany Wolfgang Seidel
25px Belgium Olivier Gendebien
Porsche 550/4 RS 1500 Spyder Porsche 1.5L Flat-4 276
6 S
1.5
62 25px Germany Porsche KG 25px Germany Helm Glöckler
25px Template:Country alias Guatemala Joroslav Juhan
Porsche 550/4 RS 1500 Spyder Porsche 1.5L Flat-4 273
7 S
2.0
34 25px United Kingdom Bristol Aeroplane Company 25px United Kingdom Peter S. Wilson
25px United Kingdom Jim Mayers
Bristol 450C Open Bristol 2.0L I6 271
8 S
2.0
33 25px United Kingdom Bristol Aeroplane Company 25px United Kingdom Mike Keen
25px United Kingdom Tommy Line
Bristol 450C Open Bristol 2.0L I6 270
9 S
2.0
32 25px United Kingdom Bristol Aeroplane Company 25px United Kingdom Tommy Wisdom
25px United Kingdom Jack Fairman
Bristol 450C Open Bristol 2.0L I6 268
10 S
2.0
35 25px United Kingdom Automobiles Frazer Nash Ltd. 25px France Marcel Becquart
25px United Kingdom Richard Stoop
Frazer Nash Sebring Bristol 2.0L I6 260
11 S
1.5
40 25px Italy Edgar Fronteras 25px Italy Giulio Cabianca
25px Italy Giuseppe Scorbati
O.S.C.A. MT-4 1500 O.S.C.A. 1.5L I4 256
12 S
1.5
41 25px United Kingdom MG Cars Ltd. 25px United Kingdom Ken Miles
25px United Kingdom Johnny Lockett
MG EX182 MG 1.5L I4 249
13 S
1.1
49 25px Germany Porsche KG 25px France Auguste Veuillet
25px United States Zora Arkus-Duntov
Porsche 550/4 Spyder Porsche 1.1L I4 245
14 S
2.0
28 25px United Kingdom Standard Triumph Ltd. 25px United Kingdom Robert Dickson
25px United Kingdom Ninian Sanderson
Triumph TR2 Triumph 2.0L I4 242
15 S
2.0
29 25px United Kingdom Standard Triumph Ltd. 25px United Kingdom Ken Richardson
25px United Kingdom Bert Hadley
Triumph TR2 Triumph 2.0L I4 242
16 S
750
63 25px France Ecurie Jeudy-Bonnet 25px France Louis Cornet
25px France Robert Mougin
DB HBR Panhard 0.7L Flat-2 236
17 S
1.5
64 25px United Kingdom MG Cars Ltd. 25px United Kingdom Ted Lund
25px Switzerland Hans Waeffler
MG EX182 MG 1.5L I4 234
18 S
1.5
65 25px France Gustave Olivier 25px France Gustave Olivier
25px Germany Josef Jeser
Porsche 550/4 Spyder Porsche 1.5L Flat-4 234
19 S
2.0
68 25px United Kingdom Standard Triumph Ltd. 25px United Kingdom Leslie Brooke
25px United Kingdom Mortimer Morris-Goodall
Triumph TR2 Triumph 2.0L I4 214
20 S
750
59 25px France Ecurie Jeudy-Bonnet 25px France Georges Trouis
25px France Louis Héry
DB HBR Panhard 0.7L Flat-2 209
21 S
1.1
47 25px United Kingdom Cooper Car Company 25px United Kingdom Edgar Wadsworth
25px United Kingdom John Brown
Cooper T39 Coventry Climax 1.1L I4 207

Did Not Finish[]

Pos Class No Team Drivers Chassis Engine Laps
22 S
3.0
16 25px Italy Officine Alfieri Maserati 25px Italy Luigi Musso
25px Italy Luigi Valenzano
Maserati 300S Maserati 3.0L I6 239
23 S
3.0
22 25px United States Briggs Cunningham 25px United States Briggs Cunningham
25px United States Sherwood Johnston
Cunningham C6-R Offenhauser 2.9L I4 196
24 S
5.0
7 25px United Kingdom Jaguar Cars Ltd. 25px United Kingdom Tony Rolt
25px United Kingdom Duncan Hamilton
Jaguar D-Type Jaguar 3.4L I6 186
25 S
750
52 25px France Société Monopole 25px France Jean Hémard
25px France Pierre Flahaut
Monopole X88 Panhard 0.7L Flat-2 145
26 S
2.0
30 25px France Automobiles Gordini 25px France Jacques Pollet
25px Brazil Hernando da Silva Ramos
Gordini T15S Gordini 2.0L I8 145
27 S
750
60 25px Italy Automobili Stanguellini 25px France René Philippe Faure
25px France Pierre Duval
Stanguellini 750 Bialbero Fiat 0.7L I4 136
28 S
3.0
19 25px Germany Daimler-Benz A.G. 25px Argentina Juan Manuel Fangio
25px United Kingdom Stirling Moss
Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Mercedes-Benz 3.0L I8 134
29 S
3.0
21 25px Germany Daimler-Benz A.G. 25px Germany Karl Kling
25px France André Simon
Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Mercedes-Benz 3.0L I8 130
30 S
1.1
51 25px France Automobiles Panhard et Levassor 25px France René Cotton
25px France André Beaulieux
Panhard VM5 Panhard 0.9L Flat-2 108
31 S
5.0
5 25px Italy Scuderia Ferrari 25px France Maurice Trintignant
25px United States Harry Schell
Ferrari 121LM Ferrari 4.4L I6 107
32 S
5.0
8 25px United Kingdom Jaguar Cars Ltd. 25px United Kingdom Don Beauman
25px United Kingdom Norman Dewis
Jaguar D-Type Jaguar 3.4L I6 106
33 S
3.0
24 25px United Kingdom Aston Martin Ltd. 25px United Kingdom Roy Salvadori
25px United Kingdom Peter Walker
Aston Martin DB3S Aston Martin 2.9L I6 105
34 S
3.0
12 25px France "Heldé" 25px France Pierre-Louis Dreyfus
25px France Jean Lucas
Ferrari 750 Monza Ferrari 3.0L I4 104
35 S
750
58 25px France Ecurie Jeudy-Bonnet 25px France Paul Armagnac
25px France Gérard Laureau
DB HBR Panhard 0.7L Flat-2 101
36 S
1.1
48 25px United Kingdom Lotus Engineering 25px United Kingdom Colin Chapman
25px United Kingdom Ron Flockhart
Lotus Mk9 Coventry Climax 1.1L I4 99
37 S
1.1
50 25px France Automobiles Panhard et Levassor 25px France Pierre Chancel
25px France Robert Chancel
Panhard VM5 Panhard 0.9L Flat-2 94
38 S
2.0
31 25px Italy Officine Alfieri Maserati 25px Italy Carlo Tomasi
25px Italy Francesco Giardini
Maserati 200S Maserati 2.0L I4 96
39 S
5.0
1 25px United Kingdom Aston Martin Lagonda Ltd. 25px United Kingdom Reg Parnell
25px United Kingdom Dennis Poore
Lagonda DP166 Lagonda 4.5L V12 93
40 S
3.0
25 25px United Kingdom Aston Martin Ltd. 25px United Kingdom Tony Brooks
25px United Kingdom John Riseley-Pritchard
Aston Martin DB3S Aston Martin 2.9L I6 83
41 S
3.0
27 25px France Jean-Paul Colas 25px France Jean-Paul Colas
25px France Jacques Dewez
Salmson 2300S Spyder Salmson 2.3L I4 82
42 S
5.0
3 25px Italy Scuderia Ferrari 25px Italy Umberto Maglioli
25px United States Phil Hill
Ferrari 121LM Ferrari 4.4L I6 76
43 S
1.5
38 25px Switzerland Walter Ringgenberg 25px Switzerland Walter Ringgenberg
25px Switzerland Hans-Jörg Gilomen
Porsche 550/4 Spyder Porsche 1.5L Flat-4 65
44 S
1.5
43 25px United Kingdom Connaught Engineering 25px United Kingdom Kenneth McAlpine
25px United Kingdom Eric Thompson
Connaught AL/SR Lea-Francis 1.5L I4 60
45 S
2.0
69 25px France Alexandre Constantin 25px France Jacques Savoye
25px France Jacques Poch
Constantin C Barquette Peugeot 2.0L I4 52
46 S
5.0
4 25px Italy Scuderia Ferrari 25px Italy Eugenio Castellotti
25px Italy Count Paolo Marzotto
Ferrari 121LM Ferrari 4.4L I6 52
47 S
1.1
46 25px United Kingdom Kieft Cars Ltd. 25px United Kingdom Alan Rippon
25px United Kingdom Bill Merrick
Kieft Coventry Climax 1.1L I4 47
48 S
5.0
9 25px United States Briggs Cunningham 25px United States William Spear
25px United States Phil Walters
Jaguar D-Type Jaguar 3.4L I6 43
49 S
750
57 25px France Ecurie Jeudy-Bonnet 25px France René Bonnet
25px France Claude Storez
DB HBR Panhard 0.7L Flat-2 44
50 S
5.0
11 25px United Kingdom Cooper Car Company 25px United Kingdom Peter Whitehead
25px United Kingdom Graham Whitehead
Cooper T38 Jaguar 3.4L I6 38
51 S
3.0
20 25px Germany Daimler-Benz A.G. 25px France Pierre Levegh
25px United States John Fitch
Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Mercedes-Benz 3.0L I8 34
52 S
2.0
36 25px United Kingdom Automobiles Frazer Nash Ltd. 25px Flag of the Republic of Ireland Cecil Vard
25px United Kingdom Dick Odlum
Frazer Nash Sebring Bristol 2.0L I6 33
53 S
750
53 25px France Société Monopole 25px France Francis Navarro
25px France Jean de Montrémy
Monopole Sport X88 Panhard 0.7L Flat-2 30
54 S
3.0
26 25px United Kingdom Lance Macklin 25px United Kingdom Lance Macklin
25px United Kingdom Les Leston
Austin-Healey 100S BMC 2.7L I4 28
55 S
1.5
42 25px United Kingdom MG Cars Ltd. 25px United Kingdom Dick Jacobs
25px Flag of the Republic of Ireland Joe Flynn
MG EX182 MG 1.5L I4 27
56 S
750
56 25px France Automobiles VP 25px France Yves Giraud-Cabantous
25px France Yves Lesur
VP 166R Renault 0.7L I4 26
57 S
3.0
15 25px Italy Officine Alfieri Maserati 25px Argentina Roberto Mières
25px Italy Cesare Perdisa
Maserati 300S Maserati 3.0L I6 24
58 S
3.0
14 25px France Mike Sparken 25px France Mike Sparken
25px United States Masten Gregory
Ferrari 750 Monza Ferrari 3.0L I4 23
59 S
750
61 25px Italy Nardi Automobili 25px Italy Dr. Mario Damonte
25px France Roger Crovetto
Nardi 750LM Giannini 0.7L I4 5
60 S
1.5
39 25px United Kingdom Kieft Cars Ltd. 25px United Kingdom Berwyn Baxter
25px United Kingdom John Deeley
Kieft Coventry Climax 1.5L I4 4

Statistics[]

  • Fastest Lap - #6 Jaguar Cars Ltd. - 4:06.6
  • Distance - 4135.38 km
  • Average Speed - 172.308 km/h

Trophy Winners[]

  • 21st Biennial Cup - #37 Porsche KG
  • Index of Performance - #37 Porsche KG
24 Hours of Le Mans seasons

19231924192519261927192819291930193119321933193419351936193719381939194019481949
19501951195219531954195519561957195819591960196119621963196419651966196719681969
19701971197219731974197519761977197819791980198119821983198419851986198719881989
19901991199219931994199519961997199819992000200120022003200420052006200720082009
20102011201220132014201520162017201820192020202120222023


References[]

  1. "Switzerland lifts ban on motor racing". GrandPrix.com & DueMotori.com. 6 June 2007. http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Switzerland_lifts_ban_on_motor_racing. Retrieved 2008-06-06. 

External links[]

Smallwikipedialogo.png This page uses some content from Wikipedia. The original article was at 1955 24 Hours of Le Mans. The list of authors can be seen in the page history. As with Autopedia, the text of Wikipedia is available under the GNU Free Documentation License.


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