Photo of two Bristol 450Cs and an Aston Martin DB3S at speed past the pits, Le Mans 1955. The Bristol 450C's were driven by Keen and Line, Fairman and Wisdom and together with a coupe version that was driven by Wilson and Mayers finished 1-2-3 in class.
The Aston is the 2nd place finisher of Peter Collins and Paul Frere. The event was won by Hawthorn and Bueb in a Jaguar D Type but the race was blighted by the appalling accident to Pierre Levegh's Mercedes which went into the packed crowds right opposite the pits, killing over 80. It was the worst accident in motor racing history and came close to seeing the sport banned altogether in many countries (it still is in Switzerland).
The photo shows the old pits building which dated from the 1930s. After the accident this was demolished and a new one built (itself demolished in the 1990s) .
10x7 inch (254x178mm)
