Five days after his accident, hansgen died in the american military hospital of orleans, france, where he had been admitted. Derek john hill born march 28, 1975 in santa monica, california is an american racing driver. Back in the states, there was another endurance race series that the c6. June 1, 2002 the 70th running of the worlds most famous endurance race, the 24 hours of le mans, has attracted entries. Drivers from both grandam and the american le mans series presented by tequila patron introduce the name of the new combined series that will start racing in 2014.
The true story of ken miles mysterious death that ford v. He is the son of 1961 formula one world champion phil hill. It merged with the grandam road racing series after the 20 season under the name of the weathertech sportscar championship. Born out of the spirit of the 24 hours of le mans, this c6. Later that year, the driver died testing a new experimental ford in california after the vehicle flipped at 150 mph. And a recent tribute video of the le mans event brings mcqueens spare depiction up to date by evoking the romance that is the le mans 24 hours. Le mans engineer ken miles and his role in 1966 race victory daily. He died two months after this photo was taken while testing a ford prototype in. Heres the real story behind the le manswinning ford gt40. Danish driver allan simonsen has died following a crash at the 24 hours of le mans, race organizers said. Media in category american le mans series drivers this category contains only the following file. American le mans series x1r pro cup series nascar southeast series nascar midwest series nascar southwest series nascar northwest series asa national tour fia formula two series whelen southern modified tour exhibition unclassified races.
The 26yearold was in a porsche 996 as a passenger when it hit the barriers at the circuit on tuesday. The british driver sean edwards has been killed in an accident during a private test at queensland raceway in australia. When driver mario andretti crashed the car at le mans 1967, the cage is believed to have saved his life. The corvette driver was spun into the wall as he battled with. Racing driver sean edwards killed in porsche crash in australia. Top flight le mans racing driver michael delaney steve mcqueen spots former rival piero belgettis widow lisa elga andersen buying flowers in the days before the race. This is a list of 24 hours of le mans fatal accidents, which consists of all the drivers who have. But theres much more to the real story of miles mysterious. Ferrari scored its ninth and to date last overall win at le mans, the 250 lms driver lineup including future f1 world champion.
Allan simonsen 5 july 1978 22 june 20 was a danish racing driver, born in odense. How carsand driverssurvive the brutal 24 hours of le mans. Imsa official home race results, schedule, standings. Panoz made most of his money in the pharmaceutical industry, where he was a part of a research group that created timerelease medication in transdermal patches. American le mans series archives motorsportstalk nbc. The race has been run every year since its inception with the exception of 1936, where the race was not run due to worker strikes, and 1940 to 1948, due to world war ii. A lot of american races say that ken was robbed of victory at le mans. People drivers drivers by state compare drivers driver rankings owners crew chiefs. He died after a crash during the third lap of the 20 24 hours of le mans. With a few hours left in the race, ford came to carroll shelby with an idea miles was a couple of laps ahead of bruce mclaren, and ford wanted to attempt to stage a tie. That is depicted in the movie, however the circumstances are slightly changed. Le mans engineer ken miles and his role in 1966 race.
The american le mans series was a sports car racing series which debuted in 1999. Kenneth henry miles 1 november 1918 17 august 1966 was a british sports car racing engineer and driver best known for his motorsport career in the us and with american. Race car at le mans crashes into spectators, killing 82 history. Le mans 1967 remains the only all american victory in le mans history american drivers, team, chassis, engine, and tires. Other than a conspiracy theory about miles somehow surviving the crash and living a quiet life in wisconsin, ken miles death is considered one of the greatest tragedies of auto racing. The vehicle did burst into flames, but reports say miles died. Realtime racing driver and team owner peter cunningham. Marajs champion racing teams won five consecutive american le mans series championships from 2004 through 2008, and also captured the overall win in the 24 hours of le mans. Ken miles, the driver behind fords victory over ferrari at le mans. It is considered one of the most prestigious automobile races in the world 2 and has been called the grand prix of endurance and efficiency. Imsa iracing pro invitational round 2 at weathertech raceway laguna secacheck out the whos who of round 2 of the imsa iracing pro invitational set for thursday at 6 p. In 1959, shelby became the second american born driver to win the 24 hours of le mans. American heroes with his feat inspiring the recent film ford v ferrari. The 24 hours of le mans 24 heures du mans is the worlds oldest sports car endurance race and one of the most famous and influential in motorsports history the overall winners of all events since 1923 are listed here.
Ferrari seems to abruptly show ken miles deadly car crash. Ken miles should of won the 1966 24 hours of le mans, or at the very least be named the cowinner. Danish racing driver allan simonsen was killed at the 81st 24 hours of le mans today, after his no. R raced at tracks across the nation following the same rules as le mans. Other than a conspiracy theory about miles somehow surviving the crash and living a quiet life in wisconsin, ken miles death. Don panoz, the cofounder of panoz cars and creator of the american le mans series, has passed away tuesday at the age of 83. Northern california drivers compete in american le mans. Ken miles, the driver behind fords victory over ferrari. He has a flashback of belgetti losing control of his ferrari, forcing him to crash as well.
He is considered to be the unsung hero of fords 1966 le mans victory after working as a test driver for the gt40. All the alms cars carried a helmet decal of the late sean edwards who was killed earlier this week. Robbed of his greatest achievement, miles died two months later in riverside, california while testing a ford prototype for the 1967 le mans. This is a list of 24 hours of le mans fatal accidents, which consists of all the drivers who have died during a 24 hours of le mans weekend, or in prerace testing or practice sessions in preparation of the event. He was 34, and this was his seventh time participating in. The american le mans monterey, presented by patron is a sixhour endurance race that features multiple classes of hightech sports. Ken miles was already a champion race car driver when he took the wheel for. Ford ceo henry ford ii second from left on the le mans podium with ken miles left credit. Aston martin driver allan simonsen killed in le mans crash. The final american le mans spotter guide for petit le mans can still be downloaded by clicking the initial image.
American le mans series aussie racing cars rolex sports car series. A lifelong entrepreneur, the charismatic panoz is best known to race fans as the founder of the american le mans series alms and creator of. Sean will be missed by the whole motorsport community. Condolences to his family, friends and colleagues on the track.
The race continued despite the horrific accident hawthorn won, purportedly because if the remaining spectators had left the area, they would have blocked the. Miles was cheated out of his victory at le mans, and he also missed the opportunity of becoming the only driver to win the daytona, sebring, and le mans in a single year. The le mans team and ford motors had to face huge criticism. John horsman was offered a graduate apprenticeship with aston martin lagonda by managing director, john wyer in 1958, a career decision that would start the clock on an astonishing run of success in sportscar racing. American le mans founder don panoz, 83 speed sport.
Grandam and american le mans announced a merger wednesday that will join them as one series beginning in 2014. Racing driver sean edwards killed in porsche crash in. First, it was still the supreme test of driving skill and sportscar. It is considered one of the most prestigious automobile races in the world 2 and has been called the. Two months after the 66 le mans, miles was killed in an accident while working as the primary test driver for shelby american during. Le mans is in mourning today for the 77 people killed when the blazing wreckage of a mercedes sports car crashed through the crowds two hours after the start of the 24hour endurance race yesterday. How carsand drivers survive the brutal 24 hours of le mans the endurance race requires not just great tech, but the ability to harness it for 24 hours straight. Jan magnussen escaped uninjured from his violent accident at the end of yesterday evenings laguna seca american le mans series round. Everything you need to know about the 24 hours of le mans.