them than racing. Abecassis had been critical of this easy-going attitude: "He never cared whether he started in a race or not... Sometimes it was a nightmare to make him practice at all. If there was some blonde he was after he just wouldn't show up." Role in the 1955 Le Mans disaster In the 1955 24 Hours of Le Mans he was involved in the most catastrophic accident in racing history, which killed Pierre Levegh and 83 spectators. 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. Although Macklin's car crashed, he was uninjured. Macklin was deeply affected by the incident. He felt that Hawthorn had tried to alleviate himself of responsibility, and that the racing community was turning the blame to him as a result. He continued to race, but another tragic experience followed in the Tourist Trophy at Dundrod. Macklin crashed his Austin-Healey 100S avoiding an accident in which Jim Mayers and William T. Smith were killed. Soon after, Macklin retired from motor sport at the urging of his then-girlfriend. Business career Macklin joined Facel Vega in Paris, running the export division until the company failed in 1963, when he began working for London car dealership H.R. Owen. Personal life Macklin was married twice; firstly to Shelagh and subsequently to Gillian. He had two children from his first marriage and one from the second. Later years He later moved to Spain, but returned to England when he became ill. He died on 29 August 2002 in Tenterden, Kent, four days before his 83rd birthday. Racing record Complete Formula One results (key) Complete 24 Hours of Le Mans results Complete 12 Hours of Sebring results References 1919 births 2002 deaths English racing drivers English Formula One drivers Hersham and Walton Motors Formula One drivers Sportspeople from Kensington People educated at Eton College 24 Hours of Le Mans drivers Place of birth missing World Sportscar Championship drivers Royal Navy personnel of World War II Carrera Panamericana drivers