French Racing Glory: How Local Heroes Outshone the Bentley Boys at Le Mans
The first Le Mans 24 Hours was held over a century ago in 1923, with much of the early success going to the French teams that dominated the grid. However, it would be a short-lived period
The first Le Mans 24 Hours, 1923. The Chenard et Walcker of André Lagache and René Leonard at the Pontlieue Hairpin, which was a defining part of the track until its removal in 1929
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Taken from Motor sport May 2023
The Bentley Boys had their hands full with the local boys in blue during the formative period of what was swiftly to become the world’s most important endurance race.
Their narrow victory of 1924 was but a speck of green.