24h Le Mans
The first British manufacturer to win Le Mans, Bentley is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. The marque has made its mark at the race for 80 years, with a few hiatuses, from its first participation to its most recent win. The first installment in this series explores a few of the marque's best moments at the 24 Hours.
1923-1924: John Duff and Frank Clement, the pioneers – On 26 May 1923, the only Bentley to take the start in the first running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans finished fourth thanks to John Duff and Frank Clement. The following year, the duo won the race at the wheel of the only participating Bentley once again.
1925-1926: official entry – After that impressive debut, Bentley intenstified its involvement with two official entrants (1925) then three (1926) representing Bentley Motors Ltd. Unfortunately, all were forced to retire.
1927-1930: the golden age of the Bentley Boys – Bentley proceeded to dominate the next four editions of the race, sweeping the top four spots in 1929 and scoring a one-two in 1930. The marque established a win record that would go unbeaten until 1957 thanks to Jaguar and Ferrari in 1962. During that era, Woolf Barnato became the first three-time winner at the 24 Hours (1928, 1929 and 1930). Joining pioneers John Duff and Frank Clement, the other "Bentley Boys" to win the race are Dudley Benjafield (1927), Sammy Davis (1927), Bernard Rubin (1928), Henry Birkin (1929) and Glen Kidston (1930).
PHOTO ABOVE (Copyright - ACO ARCHIVES): LE MANS (SARTHE, FRANCE), CIRCUIT DES 24 HEURES, 24 HOURS OF LE MANS, SATURDAY 26 & SUNDAY 27 MAY 1923. The 3-liter Bentley shared by John Duff and Frank Clement.
PHOTO BELOW (Copyright - ACO ARCHIVES): LE MANS (SARTHE, FRANCE), CIRCUIT DES 24 HEURES, 24 HOURS OF LE MANS, SATURDAY 18 & SUNDAY 19 JUNE 1927. Dudley Benjafield and Sammy Davis scored Bentley's second won, with three more victories to come until 1930.
2001: a return to victory – Under the banner of the Volkswagen Group since 1998, Bentley made its return to the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2001, with two cars in the start. Though Martin Brundle, Stéphane Ortelli and Guy Smith were forced to retire, Butch Leitzinger, Eric van de Poele and Andy Wallace won their class and finished third overall. As a nod to the "Bentley Boys," the trio took the podium wearing white jumpsuits and leather headbands.
PHOTO BELOW (Copyright - ACO ARCHIVES): LE MANS (SARTHE, FRANCE), CIRCUIT DES 24 HEURES, 24 HOURS OF LE MANS, SATURDAY 16 & SUNDAY 17 JUNE 2001. After a third place finish in 2001, the #8 Bentley driven by Butch Leitzinger, Eric van de Poele and Andy Wallace was the only car to represent the marque in 2002, finishing fourth.
2003: a win and remarkable record – After fourth place for Leitzinger-van de Poele-Wallace in 2002, the 71st running of the 24 Hours ended in a Bentley one-two. Dindo Capello, Tom Kristensen and Guy Smith claimed the top step on the podium ahead of Mark Blundell, David Brabham and Johnny Herbert. Bentley set a remarkable record in the history of the race: the largest time difference between two victories for one marque, 73 years (1930 to 2003)!
2019: a street dedicated to the "Bentley Boys" – On 13 June 2019, the street in front of the 24 Hours Museum was renamed after the "Bentley Boys." Brian Gush, Bentley Motorsport Director (he resigned at the end of July), underscored the essential role the 24 Hours of Le Mans has played in the marque's rise.
2019: 100 years and a rebirth – Bentley announced the rebuilding of 12 units of the Blower. Originally produced in 55 units, this was to be a supercharged version of the 4.5-liter Bentley winner at Le Mans in 1928. Two Blowers took the start in the 24 Hours in 1930, but neither made it to the finish line.
PHOTO BELOW (Copyright - ACO ARCHIVES): LE MANS (SARTHE, FRANCE), CIRCUIT DES 24 HEURES, 24 HOURS OF LE MANS, SATURDAY 21 & SUNDAY 22 JUNE 1930. Both of the two Bentley Blowers on the starting grid was driven by a previous Le Mans winner: Dudley Benjafield in the #8 and Tim Birkin in the #9.
100 years and still going – Bentley and Bugatti are the only two manufacturers at the first running of Le Mans still active today. Both marques are members of the Volkswagen Group, also owners of Porsche and Audi. As a result, the VAG has 40 wins to its credit, more than a third of the 87 past runnings of the 24 Hours: 19 for Porsche, 13 for Audi, six for Bentley and two for Bugatti.
PHOTO BELOW (Copyright - MICHEL JAMIN/ACO ARCHIVES): LE MANS (SARTHE, FRANCE), BUGATTI CIRCUIT, CLASSIC DAYS, SATURDAY 6 & SUNDAY 7 JULY 2019. Bentley's 100th anniversary was celebrated at the Classic Days event, with in attendance several winners for the British marque.
