Jaguar D Type pays tribute to Mike Hawthorn

The market town of Farnham in Surrey came to a standstill (Sunday 25/1/2009) when thousands of spectators stood in the pouring rain to remember motor racing Legend Mike Hawthorn who died 50 years ago.

Police closed off streets in the town centre so that more than 70 racing and sports cars worth an estimated £40 million could pay their tribute to the driver who died when he crashed his car on the Guildford by-pass.

Jaguar, for whom mike drove sent their famous Long nose D Type in which Mike won the 12 hour race at Reims in France in 1956. It was driven by motor racing champion Damon Hill.

Sir Stirling Moss and his wife Susie drove a jaguar C Type.

Co organiser Michael Ballard said: “It is fitting that Mike should be remembered on the 50th anniversary of his death. He won the Formula One World Driver’s Championship in October 1958 by a single point - just as Lewis Hamilton did in 2008, almost 50 years later.”