100 years of Le Mans at Concours of Elegance

By Ryan Standen
News
 | 14 Oct 2022
Classic & Sports Car – 100 years of Le Mans at Concours of Elegance

A special display of Le Mans racers has been announced for next year’s Concours of Elegance to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the legendary 24-hour enduro.

The showcase, organised in partnership with L’Automobile Club Ouest, will include some of the rarest and most fabled cars from Le Mans’ spectacular history.

Alongside the iconic racers, almost 1000 other vehicles will be on display across the weekend when the event returns to Hampton Court Palace on 1-3 September 2023.

Classic & Sports Car – 100 years of Le Mans at Concours of Elegance

The 1970 Le Mans-winning Porsche 917 KH has made two appearances at Concours of Elegance

Next year’s celebration won’t be the first time that the Concours of Elegance has welcomed some Le Mans legends, however.

Hans Herrmann and Richard Attwood’s race-winning Porsche 917 KH took top honours at the event in 2020, and it returned this year as part of a display of previous winners.

The red-and-white Salzburg-liveried car gained Porsche its first overall success at the Le Mans 24-hour race, back in 1970.

Classic & Sports Car – 100 years of Le Mans at Concours of Elegance

The Bentley 3 Litre finished fourth at Le Mans in 1923

Another significant vehicle from the renowned round-the-clock race to have graced Concours of Elegance is Bentley’s first Le Mans contender, a 1923 3 Litre.

The car set a lap record around the original Circuit de la Sarthe on its way to a fourth-place finish.

It marked the beginning of WO Bentley’s legendary relationship with the 24-hour race which resulted in five victories between 1924-’30.

Classic & Sports Car – 100 years of Le Mans at Concours of Elegance

The Ford GT40 won at Le Mans in 1967, ’68 and ’69 © Tim Scott

Other Le Mans icons to have attended the Concours of Elegance include the Bentley Speed Six ‘Old Number One’ – which won the race back-to-back in 1929 and ’30 – and a number of Ford GT40s.

“Le Mans is known as the most evocative, storied event in motorsport, with countless legends forged at the Circuit de la Sarthe over the past century,” said James Brooks-Ward, Concours of Elegance CEO.

“We’re thrilled to be marking its centenary by welcoming the most iconic cars from the race’s rich history to Hampton Court Palace.”

Classic & Sports Car – 100 years of Le Mans at Concours of Elegance

Concours of Elegance will return to Hampton Court Palace on 1-3 September 2023

The Concours of Elegance celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2022, as it welcomed more than 70 competitors for the Best in Show award.

This year’s winner was a 1938 Delage D8-120 ‘de Villars’ – you can check out our highlights from this year’s event here.

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Ryan Standen

Ryan Standen is Classic & Sports Car’s Editorial Assistant