24h Le Mans
This year marks the 92nd anniversary of an unparalleled performance at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. When Odette Siko crossed the finish line in fourth place in 1932, she achieved the best result by a female driver in the history of the race. Here's more about this champion and her remarkable legacy.
The years following World War I saw a surge in the women's independence movement. They even began trying their hand at motorsport during the Roaring 20s.
In 1925, for the first time ever, the ACO led by Georges Durand hosted a touring race for female drivers from Paris to La Baule. The press showered the ACO with praise for the initiative: congratulations to the Automobile Club de l’Ouest for the success of this event with no shortage of entrants and positive sporting results. Contrary to what one might assume, these women already commanded respect: showing courage, mastery and endurance that many men might envy. The sentiment was confirmed three years later at a circuit in Burgundy when Janine Jennky at the wheel of a Bugatti Type 35C won for the first time. Then, in 1930, the first female driver took the start in the world-renowned 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Journalists immediately jumped on the story. "L'Auto" newspaper stated in April of that year: the presence of this team at Le Mans is sure to be one of the main attactions. The participation was the work of Marguerite Mareuse, a wealthy 30-year-old heiress and owner of a Bugatti Type 40 destined for the 1.5L category. Mareuse recruited former tennis pro Odette Siko (age 31). Like many other drivers, she used an assumed name, sometimes “Madame Coville,” though born Séguin in Paris in 1899. After a flawless 132 laps, the team finished in seventh place, first in its category, and consequently qualified for the Biennial Cup.
The performance was unanimously lauded in the grandstands and newspapers: "L'Auto": a well-deserved ovation honoured the #25 Bugatti as it passed. In a matter of 24 hours, Siko and Mareuse had become the face of the women's movement. The publication went even further: clearly, racing is the sport in which women can best prove themselves equal to men. British fans, out in force to cheer on Bentley, were impressed. MOTOR magazine: the precise and consistent driving of the crew…blew everyone away.
Both women returned in 1931, albeit less successfully. The T40 was disqualified early in the race due to a misunderstanding during a pit stop. When Mareuse pulled in to refuel and give Siko the wheel, the latter was nowhere to be found. She was sleeping in a car near pit lane. Siko did take the track, but for some unknown reason, stopped two laps short of the what the regulations allowed. The blunder was quickly forgiven, including by the press: the two drivers were…admirable and had not personally committed any fault, further qualifying them as exceptional drivers.
Siko's adventure continued in 1932, this time with an Alfa Romeo 6C-1750 shared with Louis "Sapiba" Charavel. The duo delivered a sensational race, finishing fourth overall and first in its category. The pair returned in 1933, making it into the top 6 during the night. But, just before 07:00 on Sunday, a downpour disrupted the drivers' rhythm, and Siko stumbled in the tricky weather conditions. In the section between Mulsanne and Indianapolis, she lost control of the Alfa Romeo. The car hit two pine trees to the right of the track before crossing and hitting a third on the other side. The car burst into flames as tree branches littered the asphalt. Many drivers only narrowly missed the carnage.
Luckily, Siko was propelled into the air and landed on a dozing policeman! She suffered a broken wrist and partially burned leg, and never returned to the 24 Hours of Le Mans. More rally oriented, she served as a co-driver in the prestigious Paris-Nice race in 1935. One year later, Siko was hired by the Yacco oil company to set a speed record on the Montlhéry ring. Four female drivers (Odette Siko, Hellé Nice, Simone des Forest and Claire Descollas) took the Claire (named after Descollas), a 3.6L Matford V8, to cover 30,000 km at 140 kph. The project resulted in 25 world records, adding to her outstanding list of achievements. World War II brought Siko's career to an end and the pioneer passed away in 1984.
Siko certainly paved the way for every female driver who followed in her footsteps. In 1935, 10 women took the start in the 24 Hours, all warmly welcomed in "La revue des usagers de la route" published under the direction of Georges Durand. Many have made remarkable contributions to the history of the race. In recent years, the famous Iron Dames have made their mark on the international motorsport stage, even winning the Bahrain round of the 2023 FIA WEC. They will be back for the 92nd 24 Hours of Le Mans on 15-16 June. Nearly a centuy later, the impact of Siko and her successors is alive and well at the greatest endurance race in the world.
