Frank Clement (racing driver) facts for kids
| Nationality |  British |
|---|---|
| Born | 15 June 1886 |
| Died | 15 February 1970 (aged 83) Northumberland, England, UK |
| 24 Hours of Le Mans career | |
| Years | 1923–1930 |
| Teams | Private entries Bentley Motors |
| Best finish | 1st (1924) |
| Class wins | 1 (1924) |
Frank Charles Clement (born June 15, 1886 – died February 15, 1970) was a British racing driver. He is famous for winning the 1924 24 Hours of Le Mans race. He won it alongside his Canadian teammate, John Duff.
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Frank Clement's Racing Journey
Frank Clement was one of the special group known as the "Bentley Boys". These were a group of wealthy British drivers who raced Bentley cars in the 1920s and 1930s. W.O. Bentley, who started Bentley Motors, hired Clement as a test driver. This meant Clement helped make sure the cars were ready for racing.
First Le Mans Race
In 1923, Clement was chosen to drive in the very first 24 Hours of Le Mans race. This is a super long race where cars drive for 24 hours straight! He teamed up with John Duff. They were the only British team in the race. Even though their car was a private entry (not fully supported by the factory), they did really well. They fought for the lead for most of the race and finished in fourth place.
Winning the Big Race
The next year, in 1924, Duff and Clement returned to Le Mans. They drove Duff's private Bentley again. This time, they raced even better! They managed to win the entire race. They beat strong teams like Lorraine-Dietrich and Chenard-Walcker. This was a huge win for them and for Bentley.
More Le Mans Adventures
After their big win, Clement and Duff wanted to win the Rudge-Whitworth Triennial Cup. This was a special award for teams that did well over three years. For the 1925 Le Mans race, Bentley Motors gave them more support. They even added a second car to the team. Sadly, their car had a problem halfway through the race and couldn't finish.
In 1926, Bentley had a three-car team. Clement drove with George Duller. But again, their car didn't finish the race. Over the next two years, Bentley won Le Mans two more times, but Clement's car still had bad luck and couldn't finish the tough 24-hour race.
Final Races
In 1929, Clement finally finished the whole race again. Bentley cars were super strong that year. They took the top four spots in the race! Clement's car finished in fourth place.
Frank Clement raced his last Le Mans in 1930. He finished in an amazing second place. After that race, Bentley decided not to race at Le Mans the next year. Clement had a great career, helping Bentley become famous for its racing cars.
Images for kids
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Left to right: Frank Clement, W.O. Bentley, and John Duff with their Bentley car that won the 1924 Le Mans race.
