Throughout this month, we will bring you a very special Advent calendar dedicated to remarkable stories and anecdotes from the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans. Today, here is a look back at the era of the Roaring 20s and the extraordinary Bentley Boys who claimed the top step on the podium for the British manufacturer five times between 1924 and 1930.

Eight drivers brought Bentley to victory during the period: John Duff (1924), Frank Clement (1924), Dudley Benjafield (1927), Sammy Davis (1927), Woolf Barnato (1928, 1929, 1930), Bernard Rubin (1928), Henry Birkin (1929) and Glen Kidston (1930). Rich and bon vivant, all were driven by a real spirit of adventure, perhaps from their experiences in World War I.

John Duff survived the Battle of Passchendaele in Belgium from July to November 1917 where British, Canadian and French soldiers faced off against the German army. A trained doctor specializing in bacteriology, Dudley Benjafield served in Egypt. Woolf Barnato rose to the rank of Captain during the war. It took three years for Bernard Rubin, gravely injured in 1917, to regain the use of his legs. Henry Birkin reached the rank of Lieutenant in the air force. Glen Kidston was a submariner, with the rank of Lieutenant-Commander. Two personalities among them were truly emblematic of the spirit of the Bentley Boys, Duff and Barnato.

<h3>John Duff and Woolf Barnato, pioneers and leaders</h3>

Born in 1895 to Canadian parents in China, John Duff opened a Bentley dealership after the war and soon thereafter a new 24-hour auto race near Le Mans caught his attention. After leading a great deal of the first edition in 1923, he finished fourth with technical problems. Walter Owen Bentley was at that race, and though initially reluctant, decided in light of Duff's performance to involve his marque more, with the following year a first win thanks to Duff and Frank Clement. Four more would follow between 1927 to 1930.

Woolf Barnato was the first three-time winner at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, with in 1928, 1929 and 1930 three victories in as many participations. Also born in 1895, after the untimely death of his father he inherited a family fortune built on the diamond mines of South Africa. A true Bentley enthusiast, he became its main investor to the tune of 100,000 pounds sterling. In addition to driving racing cars, Barnato was a skilled speedboat pilot and practiced cricket, golf, boxing (middleweight category), swimming, shooting and even hunting at an impressive level.

PHOTOS (Copyright - ACO ARCHIVES): LE MANS (SARTHE, FRANCE), CIRCUIT DES 24 HEURES, 24 HOURS OF LE MANS 1924 &amp; 1930. At top, the 3-Litre Sport of John Duff and Frank Clement, the first Bentley to win the race, in 1924. Below, the Bentley Speed 6 with which Woolf Barnato became a three-time 24 Hours winner.

1930_hg_mag_0008 (1).jpg

<h3>The Bentley Boys on all fronts</h3>

Beyond the war and the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the Bentley Boys pursued an adventurous life. John Duff practiced fencing to recover from ankle injuries, moved to Hollywood where he became a stuntman, training and doubling for actors on the sets of swashbuckling movies, and became a show jumping champion. In 1919 and 1920, Dudley Benjafield joined the fight against the Spanish flu epidemic. Journalist, author and cartoonist, Sammy Davis was one of the great automotive writers of the interwar years and was great friends with documentary filmmaker Bill Mason (the father of Nick, Pink Floyd drummer and gentleman driver with five participations in the 24 Hours). Glen Kidston turned to aviation and in 1931 set the record for the England-Cape Town (South Africa) air link. A Lieutenant Colonel in the Royal Air Force during World War II, Woolf Barnato was in charge of the protection of the production sites of planes against the bombardments of the Luftwaffe in the British territory. 

The fortunate Bentley Boys led the charge in the very chic London district of Grove over the Roaring 20s, a period of celebration after the carnage of World War I, indulging their need for excitement. But, on the track they forged each in their own way the legend of gentleman drivers at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, which carries on to this day. As a tribute, in 2019 the street leading to the entrance of the circuit and 24 Hours Museum was renamed in their honor.

PHOTO BELOW (Copyright - BENTLEY): The Bentley Boys at the end of the 1920s. From left to right: Frank Clement, Leslie George Callingham, Woolf Barnato behind André d'Erlanger, George Edward Duller, Walter Owen Bentley, Sammy Davis, Clive Dunfee and Dudley Benjafield.

original_bentley_boys 1920 x670.jpg

<h3>Post-scriptum | Bentley at the 24 Hours Museum…and a cocktail!</h3>

The 24 Hours Museum permanent collection includes two winning Bentleys, the 1924 3-Litre Sport and the EXP Speed 8 victor in 2003.

The fame of the Bentley Boys has even inspired one of Britian's most famous barmen, Harry Craddock of the Savoy Hotel in London, to create the Bentley Cocktail (3 cl of Calvados and 3 cl of St Raphaël Rouge or Dubonnet Rouge).

24 Hours Stories: The Bentley Boys, a need for speed in life and on the track

On 24-25 September 2022, the Chantilly Arts and Elegance Richard Mille will host two classes of cars to kick off festivities dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the 24 Hours of Le Mans to be celebrated in 2023.

Festivities surrounding the 100th anniversary of the 24 Hours of Le Mans are already gearing up for 2022. The legendary race is expected to serve as the "guest of honor" at many events and expositions across the globe. The 2022 Chantilly Arts &amp; Elegance Richard Mille held on the Le Nôtre lawns of the Château de Chantilly on 24-25 September will provide an idyllic setting in tribute to 100 years of auto racing history. A committee of experts has defined the list of 17 classes for the State Competition, two of which will be associated with the centenary activities:

<ul><li>Cars that have contributed to the legend of the Mulsanne Straight</li>
</ul>The iconic Mulsanne Straight has long proved an obsession for aerodynamics engineers. In 1925, the Tank of Chenard &amp; Walker laid the foundations for the aerodynamics that led to the birth of legendary vehicles such as the Cadillac "Monster" in 1950 and the long-tail Porsche 917 in 1970.

<ul><li>Cars that contributed to the performance index (and the energy index)</li>
</ul>This ranking was the result of a calculation combining distance traveled and engine capacity. It favored cars with streamlined bodies that were lightened by the use of materials such as aluminum or polyester. It was an ecological approach, ahead of its time, that underscored the know-how of less funded teams. Panhard, Porsche, Lotus and Alpine cut their teeth thanks to this class.

To learn more, go to <a href="https://www.chantillyartsetelegance.com/language/en/home/">2022 Chantilly Arts &amp; Elegance Richard Mille</a>.

100th anniversary of the 24 Hours celebrated at Chantilly Arts and Elegance Richard Mille

This year, enjoy an Advent calendar with a difference! Every day until Christmas Eve, we’ll bring you an unusual anecdote that helped build the 24 Hours of Le Mans legend.

Ever since 1923, drivers and manufacturers from all over the world have been pushing back the limits of man, woman and machine at the world’s greatest endurance race – the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Records have tumbled and unusual tales have emerged as the years have gone by. Every day until Christmas, open a window in our Advent calendar with a difference to reveal a story linked to the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Some of the anecdotes are not so widely known, yet all are part and parcel of this legendary race.

Starting tomorrow, we shall tell you all about...

<ul><li>The Bentley Boys adventure or the story of a bunch of prodigal gentlemen drivers</li>
	<li>Louis Rosier, marathon man</li>
	<li>Jochen Rindt’s close call</li>
	<li>Henri Pescarolo's raindance</li>
	<li>Alexander Wurz on a promise</li>
	<li>The sparkling début of Romain “Dumez”</li>
	<li>And much more!</li>
</ul>Share your own original anecdotes from the 24 Hours of Le Mans on our social media with the hashtag #24HStories.

The 24 Hours of Le Mans Advent Calendar: 24 remarkable stories about the race

Michelin to remain the official tyre partner of the Asian Le Mans Series for three more seasons.

The Asian Le Mans Series has announced today that it will continue to place its trust in Michelin as the official tyre supplier and technical partner to the Series for three more seasons.

Michelin has a long and successful history of racing with the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO) dating back almost 100 years. After winning the inaugural race in 1923, Michelin claimed its 24th straight victory in the 24 Hours of Le Mans earlier this year.

One of the world’s leading tyre manufactures on and off the track, Michelin offers the Asian Le Mans Series teams and drivers tyres that are able to deliver fast, reliable and safe performance. Able to withstand the toughest of conditions placed on them during endurance races, the longevity of the tyres is the key to success with consistency of lap times and long-lasting performance the priorities.

Pierre Fillon, President of the Automobile Club de l’Ouest: "The ACO is delighted to renew this partnership with a loyal and valuable partner for a further three seasons. Michelin has been by our side since the beginning of the Asian Le Mans Series adventure and has contributed to the recognition of this championship, which is now firmly established in the endurance pyramid. All competitors in the Series will continue to benefit from the expertise of this great manufacturer. This is excellent news.”

Frederic Lequien, CEO of LMEM: “To have Michelin commit to the Asian Le Mans Series for three more years is fantastic news for everyone concerned. Michelin has been with us in since the series was created and is an extremely well-respected brand within our endurance racing paddocks. We look forward to continuing to build on the success of Asian Le Mans Series alongside Michelin.”

Matthieu Bonardel (Director, Michelin Motorsport): “Michelin is delighted to be extending its association with the ACO [Automobile Club de l’Ouest] with whom it has worked these past decades to expand the appeal of endurance racing across the globe. Asia is, of course, a strategically-important region for Groupe Michelin as it seeks to demonstrate its technological leadership and the quality of its tyres, while endurance racing provides a world-class show that promotes the sustainability-related values we champion. It is consequently the ideal arena for Michelin to showcase its focus on reducing energy consumption, delivering high performance from the first to the very last kilometre of its tyres’ working life and perfecting advanced technologies in favour of zero-emissions mobility. These stimulating and exacting lines of work are indissociable with endurance racing.”

Ben Ma (Director of Motorsport, Michelin Asia-Pacific): “The Asian Le Mans Series has a particularly bright future ahead of it in a part of the world that is enjoying both economic and population growth. It is a championship that boasts a quality field across all the different car classes it features. Over the next three years, Michelin will continue to supply the teams and drivers with increasingly durable, high-performance tyres along with a range of services and a standard of technical advice made possible by its considerable experience of endurance racing.”

Asian Le Mans Series renews partnership with Michelin

Le Mans Magazine: find all the news, articles about the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans race.

News and magazine | 24 Hours of Le Mans

43 teams (fielding 61 cars) competed in the 87th 24 Hours of Le Mans, the Super Finale of the FIA WEC 2018-19 World Endurance Championship. There were winners, of course, but also mechanical glitches, track incidents and early retirements. Joy for some, disappointment for others... Here’s a summary of the 24 Hours of Le Mans for the Cetilar R. Villorba Corse team, which ran in the LMP2 class.

24H Le Mans

Le Mans Series

24 Heures du Mans

FIA WEC

24 Heures du Mans 2019

<h3>TEAM: Cetilar R. Villorba Corse</h3>

Class: LMP2

Car: Dallara P217-Gibson

Drivers:

<ul>
	<li>Roberto Lacorte (3rd participation)</li>
	<li>Giorgio Sernagiotto (3rd&nbsp;participation)</li>
	<li>Andrea Belicchi (3rd participation)</li>
</ul>

This year, Cetilar R. Villorba Corse took the start in its third&nbsp;24 Hours of Le&nbsp;Mans. The Italian team qualified in 25th position with a time of 3:28.942 clocked by&nbsp;Giorgio Sernagiotto during the second session. In the race, the team&#39;s&nbsp;Dallara P217-Gibson was fortunate enough only to encounter&nbsp;one quickly resolved&nbsp;setback&nbsp;with its gearbox compressor. Sound strategy and cohesive&nbsp;teamwork led the team&nbsp;managed by&nbsp;Raimondi Amadio to finish&nbsp;in 18th place overall and&nbsp;13th in the LMP2 class. &quot;Our strategy proved effective. To make it to the chequered flag at&nbsp;our&nbsp;third 24 Hours of Le&nbsp;Mans in as many&nbsp;participations is an exceptional result,&quot;&nbsp;commented Amadio. Cetilar R. Villorba Corse is confirmed to compete in the&nbsp;2019-2020 FIA World Endurance&nbsp;Championship season.

MJA_1924A_DSC_0539.jpg

JPE_1924A_08208.jpg

PHOTO: LE MANS (SARTHE, FRANCE), CIRCUIT DES 24 HEURES DU MANS, SATURDAY&nbsp;15 JUNE 2019, RACE. Cetilar R. Villorba Corse&#39;s #47&nbsp;Dallara P217-Gibson shared by Roberto Lacorte, Giorgio Sernagiotto and&nbsp;Andrea Belicchi.

24H LE MANS

The 2019 24 Hours of Le Mans for Cetilar R. Villorba Corse (LMP2)

TEAM: Cetilar R. Villorba Corse