I'm amazed at the video quality.
Wasn't he implicated in the '55 disaster?
The good quality film was pro stuff (Pathe etc) I think the only decent film of the actual crash was made by a spectator - subsequently injured by flying debris from the Levegh Mercedes.
I read an account by By Paul Frere, I reckon he felt there was a series of relatively small misjudgements, but a major situation developing at different speeds. His conclusion and that of official enquiry was no fault to Mike Hawthorn.
Hmmm ! Frere does write
"...Macklin has his car straightened up with the two left side wheels just over the centre line, but Levegh has still not reacted..." The apparent lack of reaction from Levegh could be because Levegh had looked in his mirror at his team leader Fangio about to lap him, Levegh being a guest driver would likely be very aware that he ought not 'get in the way'
http://www.mike-hawthorn.org.uk/lemans2.php Requires log-in to view.
Looking at the pix, it looks like Macklin has swerved massively to clear the slowing Jaguar - there appears lots of room to closely pass the Jaguar, unless one was watching the rapidly approaching pair of Mercedes in one's mirror only to refocus front "oh sh#t No time or space !" But then all conjecture.
Hawthorn was officially cleared of 'outbraking' Macklin - I think the decision was a racing incident with very poor track layout and safety protection.
...Macklin regarded Hawthorn as a friend, and so was incensed when, in his autobiography, Challenge Me The Race (1958), Hawthorn absolved himself of all blame for the crash, and failed to say who he thought had been responsible. As Levegh had died in the crash, Macklin concluded that Hawthorn was pointing the finger at him, and sued for libel.
Hawthorn's death in a road crash in January 1959 put an end to that, ...
I have a distinct feeling that some still images from film may have been left out.
Macklin's Austin Healey (LeMans 1955) sold at Bonhams
http://www.bonhams.com/auctions/19293/lot/433/#
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