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More Le Mans winners have been added to the Legends of La Sarthe display at this year’s Concours of Elegance at Hampton Court Palace on 1-3 September.
A 10-car showcase will commemorate the centenary of the 24-hour enduro.
Previously announced were Mercedes-Benz’s W194 300SL that was victorious at Le Mans in 1952, the Ferrari 250P that claimed the 24-hour race in 1963 and 1964, and the Bentley Speed Six ‘Old Number One’ that won in 1929 and ’30.
The latest additions to the Concours of Elegance roster, in chronological order, start with another legendary Bentley.
This Bentley 3 Litre secured the marque’s first win at the Circuit de la Sarthe, in 1924, the second year the race was run.
Piloted by John Duff and Frank Clement, the private entry had full support from the factory.
Fitted with four-wheel brakes, a modified fuel tank and more, the 3 Litre’s success marked the start of Bentley’s impressive run of five victories at Le Mans between 1924-’30.
In 1931, it was Alfa Romeo’s time to shine with an 8C-2300 Zagato that’s also heading to Hampton Court Palace this September.
Driven by Lord Howe and ‘Tim’ Birkin, it took the victory in ’31 and became the first Italian car to win the 24-hour race.
We then roll forward a few decades to the Gulf Oil-liveried JW Automotive Engineering Ford GT40 that won Le Mans in 1968 and ’69 – it, too, will be at Concours of Elegance 2023.
Its latter triumph, at the hands of Jackie Oliver and Jacky Ickx, was thanks to a spectacular last-lap overtake to beat Hans Herrmann’s Porsche 908LH.
This will be joined at Hampton Court Palace by two victorious Gallic racers, a Matra-Simca MS670 that won in 1973 and ’74, and 1980’s winner, the Rondeau M379B driven by Jean Rondeau and Jean-Pierre Jaussaud.
A Porsche TWR WSC-95 and a Bentley Speed 8 will be the most modern Le Mans machinery on display.
The flat-six-powered Group C Porsche won in 1996 and ’97, while the Bentley Speed 8’s 2003 victory was the marque’s first Le Mans triumph in 73 years.
The number seven car that will be on show was driven by Guy Smith, Tom Kristensen and Rinaldo Capello.
“Featuring machinery from Britain, Italy, Germany, France and the US, from major manufacturers through to independent trail-blazers, our display follows the rich history of the world’s most important motor race,” said James Brooks-Ward, Concours of Elegance CEO.
“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.”
The display of Le Mans winners will join almost 1000 other vehicles across the weekend when Concours of Elegance returns to Hampton Court Palace on 1-3 September 2023.
These include a Frua-bodied Maserati, a unique Hoffman X-8 and a pair of rare Grand Prix racers.
And as a Classic & Sports Car reader, you can enjoy our exclusive 2-for-1 ticket offer – and you can join our tour to the event, too.
Check out our highlights from last year’s edition here.
Images: Concours of Elegance/Tim Scott/Bernard Beaumesnil/Remi Dargegen
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Every marque that’s won Le Mans