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Mike HawthornBritish racing driver
Date of Birth: 10.04.1929
Country:  Great Britain |
Content:
- Biography of John Michael Hawthorn
- The Tragic Accident at Le Mans
- Formula 1 World Champion
- Tragic End
- Personal Life
Biography of John Michael Hawthorn
Early Life and CareerJohn Michael "Mike" Hawthorn was born on April 10, 1929, in West Riding of Yorkshire, England. He received his education at Ardingly College and later attended Chelsea Technical College. Hawthorn's father, Leslie, owned the "Tourist Trophy Garage," which serviced prestigious brands such as Jaguar and Ferrari. Leslie himself was a motorcycle racer and supported his son's racing career. However, Leslie tragically died in a car accident in 1954, and Mike inherited his business. Hawthorn made his debut in racing in 1934, participating in the "Riley Ulster Imp" race. He won a sports car with 1100 horsepower on September 2, 1950, at the "Brighton Speed Trials." In 1951, driving a "T.T. Riley," Mike competed in the "Brooklands Memorial Trophy" race, finishing just one point behind the second-place winner. He also participated in the "Ulster Trophy Handicap" and the "Leinster Trophy." By 1952, Hawthorn switched to single-seater cars and won his first Formula 2 race that season on a "Cooper-Bristol T20" at Goodwood Circuit. His further success caught the attention of Enzo Ferrari, who offered Hawthorn his support. In 1952, Hawthorn made his debut in Formula 1 at the Belgian Grand Prix, finishing fourth. By the end of the season, he achieved his first podium finish, coming in third at the British Grand Prix and fifth in the overall standings. In the 1953 season, as part of the Italian racing team "Scuderia Ferrari," Mike won the French Grand Prix at the Reims-Gueux circuit. He also secured two more podium finishes and finished fourth in the season standings. Furthermore, Hawthorn became the first winner of the "International Trophy" and "Ulster Trophy." He also won the endurance race, the "24 Hours of Spa," with his teammate Giuseppe Farina.
The Tragic Accident at Le Mans
In 1955, Hawthorn left the Ferrari team and joined "Vanwall," which became the first constructor's champion in Formula 1 history. After two races, he returned to Ferrari. In January 1955, Hawthorn raced for the "Jaguar" team, replacing Stirling Moss. He won the "24 Hours of Le Mans," setting a lap record of 122.388 miles per hour during a three-hour duel with Juan Manuel Fangio. However, the race was marred by the "most horrific accident in Le Mans history," claiming the lives of 84 people, including driver Pierre Levegh. Hawthorn suddenly braked while overtaking Lance Macklin's "Healey" car, not noticing the pit stop signal. Macklin was forced to brake, causing a dusty cloud in front of Levegh's "Mercedes." The "Mercedes" hit the left side of the "Healey," propelling Levegh's car into the air and towards the earthen embankment separating the spectators from the track. The "Mercedes" also spun, and parts of the car, weakened by the collision, flew into the crowd, causing decapitations among the victims. Levegh, ejected from his overturned car, suffered a fatal head injury. Despite the tragedy, the race continued, and Hawthorn emerged as the winner. The official investigation found Hawthorn not guilty, while the deaths of the spectators were attributed to "inadequate safety measures."
Formula 1 World Champion
In 1958, Hawthorn finished nearly all the races of the season. Out of a possible 49 points, he scored 42. He won the Formula 1 World Championship at the age of 29, becoming the youngest champion at that time. Initially, victory was predicted for Stirling Moss, who later became known as the "unluckiest driver in Formula 1 history."
Tragic End
On a rainy morning on February 22, 1959, just two months before his planned retirement from motorsport, Hawthorn died in a car accident while driving his extensively modified Jaguar 3.4 Mk.1. The accident occurred on a dangerous stretch of the A3 road in London, where two out of the 15 previously recorded car crashes had ended fatally. Hawthorn overtook Rob Walker's Mercedes-Benz 300SL and lost control, veering onto the opposite side of the road. Mike collided with a Bedford truck head-on. His Jaguar crashed into a nearby tree, uprooting it. Hawthorn, with a fatal head injury, was thrown onto the rear seat. There was speculation that Hawthorn and Walker were racing each other. In a 1988 interview, Walker admitted that they were indeed competing, and the investigating police officer advised him not to mention his involvement in the accident to avoid incriminating himself.
Personal Life
In 1955, Hawthorn lost one of his kidneys due to an infectious disease. He had serious health problems, and according to doctors' predictions, his life expectancy was no more than three years. Hawthorn was never married, but he had a son named Arno Michel Delon with a young woman he met in Reims after winning the French Grand Prix in 1953. At the time of his death, Mike was engaged to model Jean Howarth, who later married another racing driver, Innes Ireland, in 1992.
