Frank Clement (racing driver)

Frank Charles Clement (15 June 1886 – 15 February 1970) was a British racing driver who, along with Canadian John Duff, won the 1924 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Frank Clement
NationalityUnited Kingdom British
Born(1886-06-15)15 June 1886
Died15 February 1970(1970-02-15) (aged 83)
Northumberland, England, UK
24 Hours of Le Mans career
Years19231930
TeamsPrivate entries
Bentley Motors
Best finish1st (1924)
Class wins1 (1924)
Left to right: Frank Clement, W.O. Bentley, and John Duff in front of their Bentley which won the 1924 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Career

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One of the "Bentley Boys", Clement was recruited by W.O. Bentley as a test driver for Bentley Motors. He was chosen by the company to drive in the inaugural 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1923 with John Duff in Duff's privately entered car. The only British team in the event, the pair finished the race in fourth after fighting for the lead for much of the race. The following year Duff returned with his private Bentley and the two won the race outright over several Lorraine-Dietrichs and Chenard-Walckers.

In a bid to win the Rudge-Whitworth Triennial Cup, the two drivers remained paired in 1925, and Bentley offered more support by adding a second car to the team. However, their car would fail halfway through the event and would not be able to finish. Bentley improved to a three car team for 1926, and Clement was assigned to co-drive with George Duller, although once again the car was not able to finish. Over the next two years, although Bentley won Le Mans two more times, Clement's car still was unable to finish the endurance event. In 1929 Clement once again was able to last the entire event as Bentley dominated, earning the top four finishing positions. Clement ran his final Le Mans in 1930, finishing in second place, before Bentley chose not to continue at Le Mans the following year.

Racing record

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Complete 24 Hours of Le Mans results

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Year Team Co-Drivers Car Class Laps Pos. Class
Pos.
1923   Bentley Motors Limited   Capt John Duff Bentley 3 Litre Sport 3.0 112 4th= 3rd
1924   Bentley Motors Limited   Capt John Duff Bentley 3 Litre Sport 3.0 120 1st 1st
1925   Capt J. Duff
(private entrant)
  Capt John Duff Bentley 3 Litre Sport 5.0 64 DNF
(Fire)
1926   Bentley Motors Limited   George Duller Bentley 3 Litre Speed 3.0 72 DNF
(Engine)
1927   Bentley Motors Limited   Leslie Callingham Bentley 4½ Litre 5.0 35 DNF
(Accident)
1928   Bentley Motors Ltd   Dr Dudley Benjafield Bentley 4½ Litre 5.0 71 DNF
(Radiator)
1929   Bentley Motors Ltd   Jean Chassagne Bentley 4½ Litre 5.0 157 4th 3rd
1930   Bentley Motors Ltd   Dick Watney Bentley Speed Six >3.0 173 2nd 2nd
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Sporting positions
Preceded by Winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans
1924 with:
John Duff
Succeeded by