Which car became the first to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans, in 1923?

The Chenard-Walcker Sport became the first car to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1923.

The inaugural 24 Hours of Le Mans was held on June 26–27, 1923, near Le Mans, France. The event was created to test not only outright speed but also durability, reliability, and a car’s ability to run continuously over a full day and night.

René Léonard and André Lagache shared the winning Chenard-Walcker Sport. They completed 128 laps, covering 2,209.536 kilometres at an average speed of about 92 km/h. The result established a race that would become one of endurance racing’s most important events.

Bentley later became closely associated with early Le Mans success, but it did not win the first edition. The 1923 victory belonged to Chenard-Walcker, a French manufacturer that later disappeared from the automobile market.