Cars
Le Mans Yesterday and Today: Bentley
Bentley’s Le Mans journey, spanning from 1923 to 2003, saw six victories, with the Bentley Boys dominating the 1920s and a triumphant return in 2003. New regulations might soon inspire another podium finish for this historic brand.
In fifth place overall in the history of Le Mans is another English manufacturer that has made its mark on the French endurance marathon: Bentley. Today, we are accustomed to seeing factory teams participating in the 24 Hours with setups that rival even the sophisticated Formula 1 teams, but in the early days of this legendary endurance race, things were very different.
Bentley’s adventure at the Circuit de la Sarthe began in 1923, coinciding with the first edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. John Duff, a war hero who survived the First World War, participated with his Bentley 3 Litre, leading the race for a long time before finishing in fourth position.
