Series III Illustration: TALBOT-LAGO T26 GS
At the 1952 24 Hours of Le Mans, French driver Pierre Levegh took the overall lead at 2am, and 12 hours later, was still in the lead having driven solo since the start (in the 1950s there was no rule on how long a driver could stay at the wheel). Levegh did have a co-driver, Rene Marchand, but Levegh believed that his best chance for victory was on his own. The previous year, he and Marchand finished fourth in a Talbot-Lago T26, a car that Levegh believed could be improved, and had a chance to win in 1952. But the Talbot factory refused to let Levegh tinker with their car, so he bought his own, and got to work modifying it to his liking.
The competition in 1952 was substantial, including the past year’s winner Jaguar. Mercedes-Benz, Briggs Cunningham, Aston Martin and Ferrari all brought multiple cars. Levegh was realistic about his car’s performance, he also knew that the faster cars would wear themselves out fighting for the lead, which they soon started to do. Levegh steadily moved up the leader board, and at 2am the leading Gordini headed to the pits with engine problems – the number 8 Talbot-Lago T26 GS driven by Pierre Levegh was in the lead.
As the race progressed, his team and wife begged him to take a break and allow co-driver Rene Marchand to take over. He ignored their pleas each time. At his final pit-stop of the race, Marchand tried to pull Levegh from the cockpit, but was pushed away. The now totally exhausted Levegh’s lead had grown to 4 laps. There was less than 2 hours left in the race when a pair of Mercedes raced past the pits, with no sign of the Talbot. Levegh’s race was over – the Talbot’s crank had given up. Some reports claimed it was due to a mistake by Levegh, and he was quickly blamed for the loss by the French public. But there is no evidence that the fault could have been avoided, and many credit him with keeping the car running as long as it did. The heartbroken Levegh never discussed the race in public afterwards.
He returned to Le Mans in works Talbots in 1953 and 1954, with a best finish of 14th place (1953). Alfred Neubauer, the Mercedes team boss, recognized his passion for the race and offered Levegh a seat with John Fitch at the 1955 race.
The 1955 Le Mans race is mostly remembered for the horrific accident, the worst in racing history. Pierre Levegh’s 300 SLR smashed into the Austin-Healey of Lance Macklin who had slowed to avoid Mike Hawthorn’s Jaguar as it entered the pits. Levegh’s car became airborne, and landed on top of an embankment and disintegrated into the closely-packed crowd. Pierre Levegh was killed in the accident along with 84 spectators.
Print Size: 19" x 13" or 24" x 18"
| Paper Stock: 65lb Cover Uncoated
How to Order| Home Page | View All Cars Page
At the 1952 24 Hours of Le Mans, French driver Pierre Levegh took the overall lead at 2am, and 12 hours later, was still in the lead having driven solo since the start (in the 1950s there was no rule on how long a driver could stay at the wheel). Levegh did have a co-driver, Rene Marchand, but Levegh believed that his best chance for victory was on his own. The previous year, he and Marchand finished fourth in a Talbot-Lago T26, a car that Levegh believed could be improved, and had a chance to win in 1952. But the Talbot factory refused to let Levegh tinker with their car, so he bought his own, and got to work modifying it to his liking.
The competition in 1952 was substantial, including the past year’s winner Jaguar. Mercedes-Benz, Briggs Cunningham, Aston Martin and Ferrari all brought multiple cars. Levegh was realistic about his car’s performance, he also knew that the faster cars would wear themselves out fighting for the lead, which they soon started to do. Levegh steadily moved up the leader board, and at 2am the leading Gordini headed to the pits with engine problems – the number 8 Talbot-Lago T26 GS driven by Pierre Levegh was in the lead.
As the race progressed, his team and wife begged him to take a break and allow co-driver Rene Marchand to take over. He ignored their pleas each time. At his final pit-stop of the race, Marchand tried to pull Levegh from the cockpit, but was pushed away. The now totally exhausted Levegh’s lead had grown to 4 laps. There was less than 2 hours left in the race when a pair of Mercedes raced past the pits, with no sign of the Talbot. Levegh’s race was over – the Talbot’s crank had given up. Some reports claimed it was due to a mistake by Levegh, and he was quickly blamed for the loss by the French public. But there is no evidence that the fault could have been avoided, and many credit him with keeping the car running as long as it did. The heartbroken Levegh never discussed the race in public afterwards.
He returned to Le Mans in works Talbots in 1953 and 1954, with a best finish of 14th place (1953). Alfred Neubauer, the Mercedes team boss, recognized his passion for the race and offered Levegh a seat with John Fitch at the 1955 race.
The 1955 Le Mans race is mostly remembered for the horrific accident, the worst in racing history. Pierre Levegh’s 300 SLR smashed into the Austin-Healey of Lance Macklin who had slowed to avoid Mike Hawthorn’s Jaguar as it entered the pits. Levegh’s car became airborne, and landed on top of an embankment and disintegrated into the closely-packed crowd. Pierre Levegh was killed in the accident along with 84 spectators.
Print Size: 19" x 13" or 24" x 18"
| Paper Stock: 65lb Cover UncoatedHow to Order
| Home Page | View All Cars Page
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