Le Mans 1955 of the Jaguar D Types lined up before start of the famous 24 hours race. Cars vsible are the works cars 6 (Mike Hawthorn / Ivor Bueb) 7 (Duncan Hamilton / Tony Rolt) 8(Don Beauman / Norman Dewis) plus the yellow-painted Ecurie National Belge short-nose, number 10 (Johnny Claes / Jacques Swaters).
The event was won by Hawthorn and Bueb in a Jaguar D Type with the Belgian car 3rd but the race was blighted by the apalling 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).
Available in two sizes
10x7 inch (254x178mm) and 16x12 inch (400x300mm)
Recently printed in a commercial lab from the original large format negative.
Copyright lettering does not appear on the actual photo
