24h Le Mans
Eighty years ago, Bugatti won the first of its two victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. It was an achievement a long time in the making for this ultra-luxury French car during the period between the two world wars - it had been participating in the 24 Hours as early as 1933.
In conjunction with the marque's consistent presence at the 24 Hours between 1923 and 1939, during that era Ettore Bugatti (1881-1947) released his most famous car: the Type 41 called "Royale." A victim of the economic crash of 1929, it was not as successful as anticipated: of the seven cars built between 1927 and 1933, only three were sold and six are still in circulation today.
1923 - Bugatti crossed the finish line at the first edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 10th place for Max de Pourtales and Sosthène de la Rochefoucauld.
1930 - Odette Siko and Marguerite Mareuse's entirely female driver line-up finished seventh at the wheel of a Type 40. Two years later, Odette Siko achieved the best overall result by a woman driver at the 24 Hours of Le Mans with a fourth place finish.
1931 - Of the six Bugattis at the start, three were entered directly by Ettore Bugatti himself, but none made it to the checkered flag. The female duo Siko-Mareuse was once again at the start but was disqualified after 45 laps for a premature refuelling though they were in a promising ninth position.
1932 - Bugatti made it back into the top 10 at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, with a sixth place finish for Georges Delaroche and Jean Sebilleau.
1937 - After a ninth place finish in 1934 and 14th in 1935, Bugatti finally reached the top step on the podium in 1937 in a veritable sweep by French constructors. At the wheel of the 57 G, Jean-Pierre Wimille and Robert Benoist came in ahead of two Delahayes and a Delage.
1939 - Absent in 1938, Bugatti made a triumphant return in 1939. Jean-Pierre Wimille won his second victory at Le Mans, along with Pierre Veyron that year. It was the last edition before the nine-year hiatus caused by World War II.
1994 - After a few economic downturns and a bounce-back in 1987 by Italian entrepreneur Romano Artioli, Bugatti returned to the 24 Hours of Le Mans. But the EB110 driven by Eric Helary, Jean-Christophe Boullion and Alain Cudini was forced to retire.
Photo: In 1930, one of the greatest chapters in the history of women's motorsports was written at the 24 Hours of Le Mans circuit with a seventh place finish for the Bugatti driven by Odette Siko and Marguerite Mareuse.
