From the first race in 1923 through to the high-tech prototypes of the modern era, Bentley has been touched by the magic of Le Mans. Success came early for the firm, taking overall victory at the second meeting, and from that point onwards success in the world's greatest endurance race became synonymous with the company's fortunes.
Bentley's crowning achievement came courtesy of its new owner, Woolf Barnato, who won three consecutive races from 1928-'30, the 1929 event resulting in a clean sweep of the top four positions. After that, the firm spent a number of years in the sporting wilderness with the exception of the one-off Embericos, which was campaigned privately in the post-war years until its triumphant return at the turn of the millennium.
Bentley was involved with the endurance race from the very first meeting in 1923. Captain John F. Duff and Frank Clement took their Bentley 3 Litre Sport to a respectable fourth place.
Duff and Clement took victory in 1924 only a year after their first attempt. It would signal the beginning of a dominant spell for Bentley.
