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2 unusual facts about Mike Hawthorn


Jaguar D-Type

Mike Hawthorn's D-Type had a narrow lead over Juan Manuel Fangio's Mercedes when another Mercedes team car was involved in the most catastrophic accident in motorsport history.

Mike Hawthorn

Driving at speed (one witness estimated 80 m.p.h.), Hawthorn overtook a Mercedes-Benz 300SL 'gull-wing' sports car driven by an acquaintance, the motor racing team manager Robert Walker.


Jaguar Mark 1

The Jaguar Mark I gained a certain notoriety when on 22 January 1959 former motor racing world champion Mike Hawthorn died in an accident involving his own highly-tuned 3.4-litre, VDU 881, on the A31 Hog's Back road near Guildford in Surrey, England.


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