Duncan Hamilton has been at the start of the 24 Hours six times with Tony Rolt. Yet, Hamilton and Rolt are also polar opposites. The first is a straightshooting bon vivant with a wicked sense of humour, the second is a deep-thinker and an engineer of the highest caliber. At their first participation in 1950, they finished fourth, then sixth the following year in a Nash-Healey, before going with Jaguar. After a retirement in 1952, the duo won in 1953. The win was not a walk in the park for Hamilton though since he got hit by...a bird which broke his nose on the track while he was going more than 200 km/h!

Hamilton and Rolt finished second in 1954 prior to ending their collaboration upon a retirement in 1955. Hamilton remained loyal to Jaguar until 1958 (with a sixth place finish in 1956 along with Masten Gregory). He was "unfaithful" to British cars in 1956 when he competed at the 24 Hours at the wheel of a Ferrari 625 LM Touring along with Alfonso de Portago (retirement). Hamilton is also formidable in wet conditions, finishing second ahead of the great Juan Manuel Fangio at a non-championship Formula 1 race at Silverstone in 1951!

Deeply shocked by the death of his friend, driver Mike Hawthorn, in a road accident in early 1959, Hamilton decided thereafter to end his career as a driver. His grandson Archie has since taken up the cause with two participations at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2013 and 2014. On August 30th, he will be at the start of the 6 Hours of Nürburgring, the fourth round of the World Endurance Championship at the wheel of Team SARD Morand's Morgan (LM P2 class).

Jean-Philippe Doret / ACO - Translation by Nikki Ehrhardt / ACO

Photo: LE MANS (SARTHE, FRANCE), CIRCUIT DES 24 HEURES, 24 HOURS OF LE MANS, SUNDAY JUNE 14 1953, FINISH. The nose of Duncan Hamilton (at left with Tony Rolt) shows signs of his impromptu encounter with a bird during the race.