On the iconic Goodwood hillclimb – a revered space where the splendor of motorsport and automotive entwine – Bugatti is enthralling spectators and onlookers alike by showcasing the Bolide.
It takes something very special to cut through the noise, emotion, and anticipation at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. But that’s precisely what Bugatti is accomplishing at this year’s gathering, as the Bolide¹, firing on all 16-cylinders of its unmatched 8.0-liter heart, races through the famed hillclimb route channeling blistering performance at high speeds with ease, focus and finesse.
The Bolide’s galvanizing hillclimb at Goodwood over the weekend marks the first time Bugatti’s track-only hyper sports car is shown to the public in the UK having made its global public debut with a track lap last month at the centenary of the 24 Hours of Le Mans in France. Over the weekend the Bolide continues to entertain the Goodwood Festival of Speed community, taking to the hillclimb every day in the Batch 6a Supercar Run. Legendary motorsport driver and Bugatti Pilote Officiel, Andy Wallace, is the person charged with taking the wheel of Bugatti’s most extreme modern day car at the Festival of Speed.
“To be behind the wheel of the Bolide as it takes to the hillclimb at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed is an incredible feeling,” said Andy following his opening drive. “The Bolide captured the hearts and minds of onlookers at Le Mans last month during its incredible track lap, but to drive this supremely focused and motorsport-inspired Bugatti at the Festival of Speed – on the revered road that is intimately close to spectators – is a very special and unique experience. The Bolide lets the driver feel things that other hypercars simply can’t generate – the downforce and g-forces, for example, are simply staggering. These outstanding and distinctive characteristics, together with an excellence in exquisite craftsmanship, ensure that the Bolide remains true to the Bugatti DNA in being simply incomparable.”
The Goodwood Festival of Speed is a unique and illustrious stage for motorsport and automotive celebration. First held in 1993 – exactly 30 years ago – the event now attracts around 180,000 visitors a year, making it the world’s largest gathering of its kind. The hillclimb is at the heart of the Festival of Speed, a narrow, tightly-winding road curving uphill through the scenic grounds of Goodwood House. It’s on this sacred 1.9 kilometer run where the Bolide joined Bugatti greats of yesterday that have also navigated the challenging and famous route in previous Festival of Speed events, including Type 35 racing cars of the 1930s and the acclaimed EB110 of the 1990s.
The raw power, precise handling, rapid acceleration out of the corners and the streamlined aerodynamic design are just some of the standout features that came to the fore as the Bolide completes the hillclimb time and again. The mighty roar of the iconic Bugatti 16-cylinder engine ensured the crowds could hear the Bolide approaching before the lightweight machine came into view. The visceral experience encompassed the festival, connecting spectators with the Bolide as it shot past on the Goodwood route.
“That’s exactly what the Goodwood Festival of Speed experience is all about – seeing the world’s most incredible cars on each day, not just on display, but in action and on the move, racing down that famous narrow track,” added Andy. “The Festival of Speed is the perfect place for a brand like Bugatti.”
The Bolide is the incomparable track-only Bugatti limited to only 40 units. At its center is Bugatti’s iconic quad turbo 8.0-litre W16 heart delivering 1,600 PS, deftly encased within an aerodynamically optimized lightweight carbon body that weighs just 1,450 kg, giving the car an incredible weight-to-power ratio.
Throughout the weekend, the Bolide will continue to enchant the crowds at the Festival of Speed, showcasing Bugatti’s unparalleled brand appeal and daring innovation.
