... became Britain's first Formula One World Champion in 1958, after which he retired from competitive motor racing. He was reported to have been profoundly affected by the death of his friend and team–mate Peter Collins in the German Grand Prix of 1958, and also by his involvement in the disastrous crash that marred the 1955 24 Hours of Le Mans (which he won).
In January 1959, just six months after his retirement, he died in a car accident on the A3 Guildford bypass, while driving his comprehensively–modified 1958 Jaguar 3.4–litre saloon (now known as the 3.4 Mk 1). Although the circumstances of the accident are well documented, the precise cause remains unknown. Hawthorn lost control after overtaking a Mercedes Benz 300SL sports car driven by the motor racing team manager Rob Walker, who was well known to him. Walker later admitted that he and Hawthorn had been racing, but he had been advised by the police to deny it.
There was speculation that Hawthorn may have suffered a blackout at the time of the accident, possibly due to kidney failure. He had lost one kidney in 1955, and had begun suffering problems with the other. At the time of his death, less than three months before his 30th birthday, he was expected to live only three more years.
© Macclesfield Quiz League 2017