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Become a racing driver just after the First World War, Robert Benoist joined Bugatti in 1934, after two wins at the Grand Prix of the 'Automobile Club de France in a Delage (1925 and 1927) and two at the 24 Hours of Le Mans (8th in 1928 and 6th in 1929). At that time, Bugatti symbolized the French luxury car, especially with the Type 57, presented at the Paris Salon in 1933. The rounded and contoured competition body earned it the nickname "tank." For its third participation in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Robert Benoist, with Jean-Pierre Wimille, brought the Bugattti Type 57 into the history of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, with the victory in 1937, together with a distance record (3,288 kilometres at 137 km / h average speed).

On this great victory, Robert Benoist retired. He was not only an exceptional driver, but also a patriot. During the First World War he flew reconnaissance aircraft, and was a fighter pilot and flight instructor. At the outbreak of the Second World War in September 1939, he went to Britain in May of the following year. He joined the Special Operations Executive, the secret service created by Winston Churchill and went into hiding under the code name 'Clergyman'. Arrested on 18 June 1944, Robert Benoist was deported to Buchenwald, where he was hanged on the 10th of September.

Jean-Philippe Doret / ACO

Photo: CIRCUIT OF 24 HOURS (Le Mans, Sarthe), 24 HOURS OF LE MANS, 19 & 20 June 1937. Robert Benoist and Jean-Pierre Wimille give Bugatti its first Le Mans victory. The French manufacturer won a second time in 1939, with Wimille again, that time with Pierre Veyron.