Mercedes-Benz withdrew from all motor sport endeavors in 1955 because of what turn of events?

The 1955 Le Mans disaster has been considered one of the most horrific crashes in the history of motor racing. The on-track crash resulted in the deaths of 83 spectators along with injuring almost 180 others and the death of Mercedes-Benz race car driver Pierre Bouillin (who went by the name Pierre Levegh).

During the 1955 24 Hours of Le Mans, a series of cars maneuvering around an Austin-Healey driven by Lance Macklin who was slowing to make a pit stop resulted in the Mercedes-Benz driven by Pierre Bouillin hit Macklin from behind and sending Bouillin through the air with part of his car moving past an earthen mound and into the spectator area. Bouillin was killed instantly.

The disaster led to an immediate temporary ban on motor sports in countries such as France, Spain, Switzerland, Germany, and others, until the racetracks could be brought to a higher safety standard. This incident prompted Mercedes-Benz to withdraw from all forms of motor sport until 1989.

More Info: en.wikipedia.org

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27 Comments

ninakamwene

OMG! I did not know this, and may they all. RIP. Thank you.

filmnut

Lauri Kauppinen, Very good. Do you have any idea how many people were killed. Oh, by the way they didn’t and don’t make engines out of magnesium. They make wheels out of magnesium. Most of the spectators were killed by flying metal parts. One was decapitated by a hood. They widen the track in front of the pits. In those days the pits were not separated from the track.I can write a book about?LeMans. In High School I drove a car (model) of a class winner to school.

Dorothy Harper

What a dummy, I picked the right answer then touched my pen on the wrong one. I plead a seniors moment.

Noelito

Lauri Kauppinen, Some spectators were also decapitated by flying metal.

ktldg

linda ergo, aww you don't like left turns. . Lol I agree

Carl Moore

I read years ago that AAA severed connection with auto racing because of accidents in 1955 including this Le Mans accident. So I had Le Mans available as a guess for answer here.

Jon Woolery

The black & white footage of the tragedy as it unfolded at lightening speed is unforgettable. The car careening along a swath through packed seated spectators neck-high was made worse by the engine having separated and careen along its own separate path.

Donna Smith

Missed it.

dsneed

tesla alset, I learned a lot from that post. A horrible tragedy happened that day. Love your work. Thank you. Dianne 💋😊💖💕

dsneed

On a fluke I chose the disaster. Then I read the striking details. I had no idea. I was only 10 years old at that time. Yay me.

namiphi

I'm not a race car fan.

jaijam

Wow I had no idea

Caroline Wolter Hall

Dorothy Harper, that has happened to me. 🤪

Teri Gallagan-Horning

filmnut, In the 1955 Le Mans race, a crash of a Mercedes-Benz vehicle with a magnesium-rich alloy engine block flew into a crowd. The magnesium alloy block broke apart and ignited, spraying the crowd with white-hot burning magnesium, resulting in about 80 deaths and many more injuries. While the primary cause of spectator casualties was due to flying bits of race car, the fuel of the vehicle exploded, and heated the magnesium alloy block to the point of ignition. SO....you & Lauri Kauppinen are botoh correct.