Mike Hawthorn

John Michael Hawthorn (10 April 1929 – 22 January 1959) was a racing driver, born in Mexborough, Yorkshire, England, and educated at Ardingly College, West Sussex.

Mike Hawthorn

Born	John Michael Hawthorn (1929-04-10)10 April 1929 Mexborough, West Riding of Yorkshire, England, UK
Died	22 January 1959(1959-01-22) (aged 29) Near Onslow Village, Guildford, Surrey, England, UK
Formula One World Championship career
Nationality	British
Active years	1952 – 1958
Teams	Ferrari, Vanwall, BRM, non-works Cooper, non-works Maserati
Entries	47 (45 starts)
Championships	1 (1958)
Wins	3
Podiums	18
Career points	112 ​9⁄14 (127 ​9⁄14)[1]
Pole positions	4
Fastest laps	6
First entry	1952 Belgian Grand Prix
First win	1953 French Grand Prix
Last win	1958 French Grand Prix
Last entry	1958 Moroccan Grand Prix
24 Hours of Le Mans career Years 1953, 1955 – 1958 Teams Jaguar Cars Scuderia Ferrari Best finish 1st (1955) Class wins 1 (1955)

On 22 January 1959, only three months into his retirement, Hawthorn died in a car accident on the A3 Guildford bypass. He drove his modified 1958 Jaguar 3.4-litre saloon (now known as the 3.4 Mk 1) VDU 881 to London. The precise cause of the accident is unknown.^[2]

The accident occurred on a notoriously dangerous section of the road, the scene of 15 serious accidents (two fatal) in the previous two years. The road was also wet at the time. 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 Rob Walker. On entering a right-hand bend shortly after passing the Mercedes, Hawthorn clipped a 'Keep Left' bollard dividing the two carriageways, causing him to lose control..