Robert Marcel Charles Benoist born near Rambouillet, Île-de-France on 20 March 1895. He was perhaps France's finest pre-war driver, winning many races. He with Jean-Pierre Wimille won the 1937 24 Hours of Le Mans. He was a secret agent for the British during WWII, working with the under-ground in France. His family estate in France was used as a base of operations and an ammo supply site for the resistance. He was arrested by the Gestapo but made a harrowing escape by jumping from a moving car. He was rescued and taken to England with help of the resistance, but returned to France to carry out further opposition to the ooccupation. While visiting his dying mother in Paris, he was once again arrested by the Gestapo. He was imprisoned in Büchenwald and later executed on 11 September 1944. Nearly a year later after Germany's surrender on 9 September 1945 a race was held in Paris; the"Coupe Robert Benoist".
