Frank Clement (racing driver) explained

Frank Clement
Birth Date:15 June 1886
Death Place:Northumberland, England, UK
Nationality: British
Occupation:Racing Driver
Years:
Team(S):Private entries
Bentley Motors
Best Finish:1st
Class Wins:1

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.

Career

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 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, 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 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, finishing in second place, before Bentley chose not to continue at Le Mans the following year.

Racing record

Complete 24 Hours of Le Mans results

YearTeamCo-DriversCarClassLaps
1923 Bentley Motors Limited Capt John DuffBentley 3 Litre Sport3.01124th=3rd
1924 Bentley Motors Limited Capt John DuffBentley 3 Litre Sport3.01201st1st
1925 Capt J. Duff
(private entrant)
Capt John DuffBentley 3 Litre Sport5.064DNF
(Fire)
1926 Bentley Motors Limited George DullerBentley 3 Litre Speed3.072DNF
(Engine)
1927 Bentley Motors Limited Leslie Callingham5.035DNF
(Accident)
1928 Bentley Motors Ltd Dr Dudley BenjafieldBentley 4½ Litre5.071DNF
(Radiator)
1929 Bentley Motors Ltd Jean ChassagneBentley 4½ Litre5.01574th3rd
1930 Bentley Motors Ltd Dick WatneyBentley Speed Six>3.01732nd2nd

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