1. Lance Noel Macklin was a British racing driver from England.
19 Facts About Lance Macklin
1. 2.
Lance Macklin participated in 15 Formula One World Championship Grands Prix, debuting on 18 May 1952.
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Lance Macklin was infamously involved in the 1955 Le Mans disaster, starting the initial chain reaction.
4.
Lance Macklin was born in Kensington, and educated at Eton College.
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Lance Macklin volunteered for service with the Royal Navy in 1939 and was assigned to work on motor gun boats.
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On demobilisation after the Second World War, Lance Macklin followed his early ambition and became a racing driver, although an early attempt to enter a race on the Isle of Man was refused on grounds that he had no experience.
7.
Lance Macklin secured an entry to the 1948 Grand Prix des Frontieres, and practised for the event by driving his Invicta at high speeds on public roads, teaching himself to four-wheel drift around Belgrave Square in London's Mayfair.
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Lance Macklin impressed in the race and eventually earned a signing with Aston Martin.
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Lance Macklin was made a reserve driver for Le Mans and raced at the Spa 24 Hours, finishing fifth.
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Lance Macklin finished fifth at Le Mans in 1950 alongside teammate and HWM owner George Abecassis.
11.
Lance Macklin returned to Le Mans with Aston Martin in 1951, finishing third overall and taking his second S3.0 class victory, although class victories were not celebrated at that time.
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Lance Macklin left Aston Martin in 1952, dissatisfied with his retaining fee, and joined Bristol for the following year.
13.
Lance Macklin swerved to avoid hitting the Jaguar of Mike Hawthorn, who was braking hard in a late attempt to pit, and moved into the path of Levegh's car causing it to clip his.
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Lance Macklin felt that Hawthorn had tried to alleviate himself of responsibility, and that the racing community was turning the blame to him as a result.
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Lance Macklin continued to race, but another tragic experience followed in the Tourist Trophy at Dundrod.
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Lance Macklin was married twice; firstly to Shelagh and subsequently to Gillian.
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Lance Macklin had two children from his first marriage and one from the second.
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Lance Macklin later moved to Spain, but returned to England when he became ill.
19.
Lance Macklin died on 29 August 2002 in Tenterden, Kent, four days before his 83rd birthday.