Pioneers

1923-1939. 1923-1939. Bentley Boys, Alfa Romeo dominance, the Bugatti and Talbot interwar era. The race invents itself.

Part of Le Mans 24 Hours

26 moments in this segment.

1. 1923-05-26 — 1923 · Chenard et Walcker. The first 24 Heures du Mans, 26-27 May 1923, organised by the Automobile Club de l'Ouest. Run in mud and rain.
2. 1924-06-14 — 1924 · Bentley 3 Litre. First Bentley Boys victory. John Duff and Frank Clement in a privately-entered Bentley 3 Litre Sport.
3. 1927-06-18 — 1927 · Bentley 3 Litre Super Sport. The "White House Crash" — three Bentleys collided at the kink before White House, Davis nursed the surviving Bentley to victory.
4. 1928-06-16 — 1928 · Bentley 4½ Litre. Woolf Barnato, the South African diamond heir and Bentley chairman, takes his first of three consecutive wins.
5. 1929 — 1929 · Bentley Speed Six. Bentley sweep — five of the top seven finishers were Bentleys. Barnato and Birkin win.
6. 1930-06-21 — 1930 · Bentley Speed Six. 📹 VICTORS OF LE MANS TALK TO MOVIETONE - SOUND Year: 1930 · Winner: Bentley Speed Six · Drivers: Woolf Barnato · Glen Kidston Barnato's third straight win — the only driver in history to win every Le Mans he ever entered (three for three).
7. 1931-06-13 — 1931 · Alfa Romeo 8C 2300. Earl Howe and Tim Birkin in the supercharged Alfa Romeo 8C — first non-Bentley win in five years.
8. 1932-06-18 — 1932 · Alfa Romeo 8C 2300. Raymond Sommer drove nearly the entire 24 hours alone after partner Luigi Chinetti fell ill.
9. 1933-06-17 — 1933 · Alfa Romeo 8C 2300. Tazio Nuvolari, "Il Mantovano Volante", takes the win. Alfa's three-peat.
10. 1933-06-17 — 1933 · Alfa Romeo 8C 2300. 📹 1933 Le Mans 24H - Nuvolari and Sommer win (+ BONUS 1934 race) Year: 1933 · Winner: Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 · Drivers: Tazio Nuvolari · Raymond Sommer Tazio Nuvolari, "Il Mantovano Volante", takes the win. Alfa's three-peat.
11. 1934-06-16 — 1934 · Alfa Romeo 8C 2300. Alfa's four-in-a-row. Luigi Chinetti, the future US Ferrari importer, gets his name on the trophy.
12. 1935 — 1935 · Lagonda M45R. Lagonda breaks the Alfa streak in the last car-builder year before Chrysler-style mass production reaches racing.
13. 1937-06-19 — 1937 · Bugatti Type 57G Tank. Streamlined Bugatti "Tank" body. The 1936 race was cancelled (Front Populaire general strike).
14. 1938-06-18 — 1938 · Delahaye 135 CS. French marque Delahaye wins on home soil. The last pre-war race produced a usable winner; the 1939 race was a fast one.
15. 1939-06-17 — 1939 · Bugatti Type 57C Tank. Bugatti's second Le Mans win in three years. Three months later, war breaks out; the race won't run again until 1949.
16. 2013-04-25 — 1938 · Delahaye 135 CS. 📹 1935 Delahaye 135 S - Jay Leno's Garage Year: 1938 · Winner: Delahaye 135 CS · Drivers: Eugène Chaboud · Jean Trémoulet French marque Delahaye wins on home soil. The last pre-war race produced a usable winner; the 1939 race was a fast one.
17. 2017-02-07 — 1931 · Alfa Romeo 8C 2300. Zagato Spider - FISKENS Year: 1931 · Winner: Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 · Drivers: Earl Howe · Sir Henry Birkin Earl Howe and Tim Birkin in the supercharged Alfa Romeo 8C — first non-Bentley win in five years.
18. 2017-06-30 — 1927 · Bentley 3 Litre Super Sport. 📹 Nürburgring Classic 2017 - Elefantenrennen Le Mans Start - onboard 1927 Bentley Old Mother Gun Year: 1927 · Winner: Bentley 3 Litre Super Sport · Drivers: Sammy Davis · J. D. Benjafield The "White House Crash" — three Bentleys collided at the kink before White House, Davis nursed the surviving Bentley to victory.
19. 2018-06-15 — 1924 · Bentley 3 Litre. 📹 John Francis Duff's 1924 Bentley | Legends of Le Mans | Eurosport Year: 1924 · Winner: Bentley 3 Litre · Drivers: John Duff · Frank Clement First Bentley Boys victory. John Duff and Frank Clement in a privately-entered Bentley 3 Litre Sport.
20. 2020-11-13 — 1929 · Bentley Speed Six. 📹 Rebirth of a legend - Bentley Speed 6 Blower - 24 Hours Le Mans Winner Year: 1929 · Winner: Bentley Speed Six · Drivers: Woolf Barnato · Sir Henry Birkin Bentley sweep — five of the top seven finishers were Bentleys. Barnato and Birkin win.
21. 2023-05-18 — 1937 · Bugatti Type 57G Tank. 📹 Bugatti 57 G Le Mans 1937 (R) Year: 1937 · Winner: Bugatti Type 57G Tank · Drivers: Jean-Pierre Wimille · Robert Benoist Streamlined Bugatti "Tank" body. The 1936 race was cancelled (Front Populaire general strike).
22. 2023-08-28 — 1935 · Lagonda M45R. 📹 1938 Lagonda V12 Le Mans Replica Sports Tourer Year: 1935 · Winner: Lagonda M45R · Drivers: John Hindmarsh · Luis Fontés Lagonda breaks the Alfa streak in the last car-builder year before Chrysler-style mass production reaches racing.
23. 2023-09-05 — 1932 · Alfa Romeo 8C 2300. 📹 Raymond Sommer/Luigi Chinetti Alfa Romeo 8C #8 Winner Le Mans 1932 Year: 1932 · Winner: Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 · Drivers: Raymond Sommer · Luigi Chinetti Raymond Sommer drove nearly the entire 24 hours alone after partner Luigi Chinetti fell ill.
24. 2023-10-04 — 1928 · Bentley 4½ Litre. 📹 Bentley 4.5 litre Le Mans Style Tourer 1928 Year: 1928 · Winner: Bentley 4½ Litre · Drivers: Woolf Barnato · Bernard Rubin Woolf Barnato, the South African diamond heir and Bentley chairman, takes his first of three consecutive wins.
25. 2024-06-13 — 1923 · Chenard et Walcker. 📹 24h Le Mans 1923 - History and Background EXPLAINED Year: 1923 · Winner: Chenard et Walcker · Drivers: André Lagache · René Léonard The first 24 Heures du Mans, 26-27 May 1923, organised by the Automobile Club de l'Ouest. Run in mud and rain.
26. 2025-02-27 — 1939 · Bugatti Type 57C Tank. 📹 Le Mans Winning 1937 Bugatti 57G "Tank" driving on FROZEN lake! Year: 1939 · Winner: Bugatti Type 57C Tank · Drivers: Jean-Pierre Wimille · Pierre Veyron Bugatti's second Le Mans win in three years. Three months later, war breaks out; the race won't run again until 1949.