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1955 Le Mans disaster

Witness History

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The Race at Le Mans

The real competition is between the English manufacturer Jaguar and the German Mercedes. John Fitch was partnered with Frenchman Pierre Levesque, a 50-year-old, elderly in motor racing terms but determined having narrowly missed out on a win three years earlier. I knew from his wife that this was his fondest hope to be able to race for Mercedes' bends and race at Le Mans. One of the fastest drivers, oddly enough, was one of the slowest starters, and that was Juan Manuel Fanjou. The battle provided an extra thrill for the crowd of 300,000 who'd been gathering for hours to get the best view. Those pressed against the low-white picket fence

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