24h Le Mans
The Chenard & Walcker (1923) : 30 cars and 90 years of the 24 Hours of Le Mans 29/30
On the 90th anniversary of the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2013, the Automobile Club de l’Ouest has selected thirty historic cars grouped into three per decade, all up for public vote by race fans. To participate, click HERE and choose one per decade. The vote is open until the 15th of January 2013. Each of the thirty cars will have a short introduction. Today it is the Chenard & Walcker that won the first ever 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1923.
The first 24 Hours of Le Mans was called the "Grand Prix of Endurance 24 Hours." It aimed to test the strength of the cars, which had to retain their road-going features (wings, bumpers, bonnet, headlights, etc.). Chenard & Walcker, who built their first car in 1901, was one of eighteen pioneering marques included in this first edition, with three cars entered. All were at the finish, having survived the many hazards (including rain and wind) on the circuit (a little more than 17 km long at that time) they went down in history, thanks to a superb 1-2 finish by Lagache-Léonard and Bachmann-D’auvergne. The first victory in the history of the 24 Hours went to a French manufacturer, facing a brilliant adversary from Great Britain, who won in La Sarthe the following year and in their turn became part of the legend, Bentley.
Year : First edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans (26th & 27th May 1923)
Number of cars entered : Three
Technical Information :
3 litre 4 cyl in-line
Drivers :
André Lagache-René Léonard (n°9)
Raoul Bachmann-Christian d’Auvergne (n°10)
Fernand Bachmann-Raymond Glaszmann (n°11)
Results :
1st (André Lagache-René Léonard)
2nd (Raoul Bachmann-Christian d’Auvergne)
7th (Fernand Bachmann-Raymond Glaszmann)
Notes : For the first and ony time, the 24 Hours of Le Mans was held in May. From 1924 it moved to its traditional date in June, and has remained there with the exception of 1968 raced in September and 1956 in July.
