René Léonard
Encyclopedia
René Léonard was a French
racing driver
who, along with André Lagache
, won the inaugural running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans
in . Lagache and Léonard were both engineers for the Chenard et Walcker
automobile
company, and were chosen to drive one of the three entries in the endurance event. Their "Sport" model finished by a four lap margin over another Chenard et Walcker.
The two drivers drove together the next two years, but failed to finish either time. After their third Le Mans attempt, the two won the Spa 24 Hours
before Chenard et Walcker withdrew from competition.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
racing driver
Auto racing
Auto racing is a motorsport involving the racing of cars for competition. It is one of the world's most watched televised sports.-The beginning of racing:...
who, along with André Lagache
André Lagache
André Lagache was a French racing driver who, along with René Léonard, won the very first 24 Hours of Le Mans in . Lagache was an engineer at automobile manufacturer Chenard et Walcker, and was chosen to drive their "Sport" model in the inaugural 24 Hours of Le Mans...
, won the inaugural running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans
24 Hours of Le Mans
The 24 Hours of Le Mans is the world's oldest sports car race in endurance racing, held annually since near the town of Le Mans, France. Commonly known as the Grand Prix of Endurance and Efficiency, race teams have to balance speed against the cars' ability to run for 24 hours without sustaining...
in . Lagache and Léonard were both engineers for the Chenard et Walcker
Chenard-Walcker
Chenard-Walcker, also known as Chenard & Walcker and Chenard et Walcker was a French automobile manufacturer, from 1900 to 1946. The factory was at first in Asnières-sur-Seine moving to Gennevilliers in 1906.-History:...
automobile
Automobile
An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor...
company, and were chosen to drive one of the three entries in the endurance event. Their "Sport" model finished by a four lap margin over another Chenard et Walcker.
The two drivers drove together the next two years, but failed to finish either time. After their third Le Mans attempt, the two won the Spa 24 Hours
Spa 24 Hours
The Total 24 Hours of Spa is an endurance racing event held annually in Belgium at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps. Conceived by Jules de Their and Henri Langlois Van Ophem just one year after the first 24 Hours of Le Mans, the race was run under the auspices of the Royal Automobile Club Belgium...
before Chenard et Walcker withdrew from competition.