The British marque entered the 24 Hours of Le Mans from the very first race in 1923 and won it the very next year. In 1927 Dr. Dudley Benjafield and Sammy Davis won the race, marking the beginning of a four-year streak of success.

Six men were to thank for their team’s domination of the event during that period: Benjafield and Davis shared the glory with Bernard Rubin (1928 winner), Henry Birkin (1929), Glen Kidston (1930) and Woolf Barnato.

Winner in 1928, 1929 and 1930, Barnato was the first driver to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans three times – all the more impressive because he achieved three wins in three attempts! Barnato (1895-1948) made a fortune in the gold and diamond mines of South Africa before turning to racing in 1921. He provided Bentley with financial backing, which earned him a seat in the car – a favour he repaid by claiming the trophy.

The legend of the Bentley Boys is still alive today in Britain and at Le Mans. In 2001, the Volkswagen group, which now owns the brand, entered Bentley for the famous endurance race once more. Andy Wallace, Butch Leitzinger and Eric van de Poele came third overall and mounted the podium dressed in the same white firesuits and leather headbands as the original Bentley Boys.

Bentley holds one of the most surprising records in the history of Le Mans, for the longest gap between two wins: 70 years (between 1930 and 2003)! Having come third again in 2002 Bentley reached the top step in 2003 thanks to Dindo Capello, Tom Kristensen and Guy Smith – the second generation of Bentley Boys.

The fifth running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans: podium
1-Dr. Dudley Benjafield-Sammy Davis (Bentley Sport #3)
2-J. Hasley-Andre de Victor (Salmson GS #25)
3-André Rousseau-Georges Casse (Salmson GS #23)

The next instalment in the Stories of 18–19 June series will be published on Tuesday 10 May.

Jean-Philippe Doret / ACO – Translated from French by Emma Paulay