Woolf Barnato : Mr 100 %
Back

Woolf Barnato : Mr 100 %

Mr 100 % : Woolf Barnato

Three participations and three wins at the 24 Hours of Le Mans !

Tom Kristensen, alias "Mr Le Mans" was born long after the lifetime of Woolf Barnato alias "Mr. 100%". Here is a look back on the life of a hero of the inter-war period.

Born in 1887, Woolf Barnato early inherited an immense fortune left by his father, operator of a diamond mine in South Africa. Boxer, golfer and cricketer, the Englishman engaged in multiple sporting activities and his enthusiasm was sparked for beautiful cars. It was this passion caused him to come to the aid of his friend Walter Owen Bentley who was close to bankruptcy.

As a top sportsman and majority shareholder of Bentley ... he just had to put on a helmet. In 1928, it was the logical thing that he would go to Le Mans where Bentley had already accumulated two wins. In a master stroke, with his rich friend Rubin, also a beginner they beat the powerful Stutz in their ageing is 4.5 litre.

This good fortune continued in 1929 When He won with Henry Birkin driving a brand new Speed Six, and then again in 1930 along with another partner, Glen Kidson, with whom he improved his own distance record (2930 km) at the finish after a tough duel with the Mercedes of Caracciola. It was not just a master stroke but a hat trick! Woolf Barnato never returned to Le Mans. He remains the only driver to win at every participation, three times in three consecutive years. He died in 1948 and was taken to his final resting place in a Bentley of the great era.

Julien HERGAULT / ACO

Major Partner

PREMIUM partners

OFFICIAL partners

All partners