Pierre Levegh

Pierre Levegh (December 22, 1905 - June 11, 1955): Born Pierre Eugène Alfred Bouillin in Paris, France, Levegh adopted his racing name in honor of his uncle, a pioneering driver. He participated in three Formula One World Championship Grands Prix between 1950 and 1951. Levegh is tragically remembered for the 1955 Le Mans disaster, where his Mercedes-Benz crashed into the crowd, killing himself and 83 spectators in motorsport's deadliest accident. Before this tragedy, Levegh had been a respected endurance racer, nearly winning the 1952 24 Hours of Le Mans while driving solo for almost the entire race, only for his Talbot to fail in the final hour.

The 1955 Le Mans disaster led to significant safety reforms in motorsport and caused several countries to ban racing altogether for years. Despite the tragic circumstances of his death, Levegh's earlier achievements demonstrated his exceptional skill and determination as a racing driver.