24h Le Mans
British racing legend Sir Stirling Moss passed away this past Sunday 12 April at the age of 90. His career in motorsport spanned many years and several disciplines. Though Moss never reached the top step on the 24 Hours of Le Mans podium, he did take the start in the race multiple times. In this second installment, the veteran of the Le Mans-style start teams up with Juan Manuel Fangio in 1955 at the wheel of a Mercedes 300SLR.
On paper, the top driver line-up at the 1955 24 Hours of Le Mans was Juan Manuel Fangio, considered at the time the best driver in the world, and Sir Stirling Moss, his most promising teammate with Mercedes. A few weeks earlier, their Mercedes 300SLR had won the Mille Miglia thanks to Moss.
Three Mercedes took the start in the 24 Hours in 1955 for the German marque's return to Le Mans: the #19 for Fangio and Moss, the #20 for Levegh and Fitch, and the #21 pour Kling and Simon. The Le Mans-style start was given at 16:00 and although Moss was an expert thanks to his five participations, Fangio was chosen to run across the track and jump in the #19 for the start. The two-time F1 world champion (at the time) attempted to imitate his teammate by hopping in the car without opening the door, but his pant leg got stuck in the gear shift,
This bit of bad luck cost precious time straight out of the gate. Fortunately, Fangio proceeded to beat lap record after lap record. After only five, he had already taken the lead in the race. A catastrophic accident occurred at 18:28, involving the #20 Mercedes of Levegh and the Austin Healey of Macklin after the Jaguar of Hawthorn braked looking to make a pit stop in the wake of a final overtaking. The spectators suffered more than 80 deaths and 100 wounded. Fangio, driving the #19, managed to avoid the accident.
The race actually resumed to help prevent the exit of hundreds of thousands of spectators which would have impeded the efforts of rescue and medical personnel. Firmly in the lead of the race, at approximately 01:00 on Sunday Mercedes gave the #19 the order to withdraw. Fangio never raced at Le Mans again. Moss, who also won the RAC Tourist Trophy and the Targa Florio in 1955 with the 300SLR, never reached the top step on the podium at the 24 Hours of Le Mans despite participations in 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959 and 1961.
Click for the first installment in this three-part series: SIR STIRLING MOSS AT THE 24 HOURS OF LE MANS
PHOTO (1957 24 Hours of Le Mans): Sir Stirling Moss was a Le Mans-style start specialist to such a degree that Juan Manuel Fangio attempted to imitate Moss in 1955.
