André Lagache (21 January 1885 – 2 October 1938) was a French

racing driver Auto racing (also known as car racing, motor racing, or automobile racing) is a motorsport involving the racing of automobiles for competition. Auto racing has existed since the invention of the automobile. Races of various sorts were organise ...

who, along with

René Léonard René Léonard (23 June 1889 - 15 August 1965) was a French racing driver who, along with André Lagache André Lagache (21 January 1885 – 2 October 1938) was a French racing driver who, along with René Léonard, won the inaugural 24 Hours ...

, won the inaugural

24 Hours of Le Mans The 24 Hours of Le Mans (french: link=no, 24 Heures du Mans) is an endurance-focused Sports car racing, sports car race held annually near the town of Le Mans, France. It is the world's oldest active Endurance racing (motorsport), endurance r ...

in .

Career

Lagache and Léonard were engineers at

automobile A car or automobile is a motor vehicle with Wheel, wheels. Most definitions of ''cars'' say that they run primarily on roads, Car seat, seat one to eight people, have four wheels, and mainly transport private transport#Personal transport, pe ...

manufacturer Chenard et Walcker, and were chosen to drive their "Sport" model in the inaugural 24 Hours of Le Mans. The duo drove a distance of over 24 hours and beat another Chenard-Walcker by a four lap margin. Lagache continued to run Le Mans for Chenard et Walcker for the next two years, but was unable to finish the event again. Lagache also raced a Chenard-Walcker in the inaugural

Spa 24 Hours The 24 Hours of Spa is an Endurance racing (motorsport), endurance racing event for cars held annually since 1924 at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Stavelot, Belgium. It is currently sponsored by TotalEnergies. History The Spa 24 Hours was ...

in 1924, finishing second alongside André Pisart. He returned with Léonard to win the event in 1925, and finished third with Léonard in 1926. Lagache won the in 1925 and 1926. He was one of the founders of the tractor manufacturer FAR, and supplied the ''A'' to the company name. He was killed in an accident while demonstrating a vehicle in front of army officials in 1938.

Racing record

Complete 24 Hours of Le Mans results

External links

André Lagache
at ''racingsportscars.com''.

References

French racing drivers Grand Prix drivers 24 Hours of Le Mans drivers 24 Hours of Le Mans winning drivers 24 Hours of Spa drivers Chevaliers of the Légion d'honneur 1885 births 1938 deaths People from Pantin Sportspeople from Seine-Saint-Denis {{france-autoracing-bio-stub