It has been an entire century since Bentley first tasted victory at the famous 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race. To celebrate this monumental 100-year anniversary, the very same Bentley race car that took the checkered flag in 1924 will be making a triumphant return to the Circuit de la Sarthe.While modern Bentley fans may be more familiar with the brand's six total Le Mans wins, with the most recent coming in 2003, that historic first victory in 1924 was truly groundbreaking. It helped put the fledgling Bentley name on the global racing map.The car that accomplished this feat was the Bentley 3 Liter Sport model. It was piloted by the daring duo of John Duff and Frank Clement, who were among the "Bentley Boys" of that era. In an incredibly audacious move, they didn't simply trailer the car to Le Mans. No, Duff and Clement actually drove the 3 Liter Sport all the way from Bentley's base at Brooklands Circuit in Britain to the Le Mans circuit in France before the race began. And after taking the checkered flag 24 hours later, they promptly turned around and drove it back home again!Now, 100 years later, a team of expert craftsmen from the Vintage Bentley restoration company will replicate that incredible voyage in the actual 1924 race-winning 3 Liter Sport. They will follow the exact same route through French towns like Boulogne, Berck, Dieppe, Rouen, Evreux, Mortagne, and Mamers before arriving at Le Mans.Upon reaching the circuit, the historic 3 Liter Sport will take a well-deserved lap of honor. It will lead the parade of modern entries during the pre-race festivities ahead of the 2024 running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans on June 15-16. But its celebration doesn't end there!Rather than immediately returning to Britain, this pioneering race car will remain on display for a period at the official 24 Hours of Le Mans Museum located right alongside the Circuit de la Sarthe. Race fans and Bentley aficionados alike will have a rare opportunity to see the humble yet mighty 3.0-liter four-cylinder car that kicked off Bentley's enduring Le Mans legacy one century ago. Source: Bentley
