By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
The Auto Magazine
  • Home
  • Auto Shows
    Auto ShowsShow More
    Multifaceted MasterDrive at Simola
    April 24, 2025
    OMODA & JAECOO accelerate 2025 NEV strategy with bold debuts at Auto Shanghai
    April 24, 2025
    GWM Unveils its Global Strategy at Auto Shanghai 2025
    April 24, 2025
    Maserati takes part in Anantara Concorso Roma 2025
    April 23, 2025
    Knysna Motor Show goes Cars@Coffee on 27 April, 2025
    April 20, 2025
  • Bikes
    BikesShow More
    BMW Motorrad presents the new R 18 models
    January 22, 2025
    BMW Motorrad presents the BMW Concept F 450 GS
    November 5, 2024
    BMW Motorrad presents the new bikes
    November 1, 2024
    24YM HONDA NX500
    October 15, 2024
    BMW Motorrad presents the new BMW C 400 GT and BMW C 400 X
    October 15, 2024
  • News
    NewsShow More
    Chery launches LEPAS brand with L8 luxury SUV, ushering in a new premium era
    April 25, 2025
    NADA Applauds Move to Support Stability and Ease Pressure on Consumers
    April 24, 2025
    Automechanika Sub-Saharan Africa Roadshow Expands Automotive Aftermarket Possibilities
    April 24, 2025
    AK47 PROTECTION FOR JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE (WITH WARRANTY INTACT!)
    April 24, 2025
    Ford Silverton Manufacturing Plant Green Initiatives a Step Closer to Carbon Neutrality
    April 23, 2025
  • Concepts
    ConceptsShow More
    Audi unveils Q6 e-tron offroad concept
    January 28, 2025
    CITROEN PRESENTS C5 AIRCROSS CONCEPT
    October 15, 2024
    Lotus Unveils Theory 1:  The Future Of Intelligent Performance
    September 23, 2024
    First sketches of Škoda Enyaq RS Race
    May 3, 2024
    W16 Mistral: the art of bringing Bugatti’s ultimate roadster to life
    January 24, 2024
  • EVs
    EVsShow More
    RANGE ROVER ELECTRIC PROTOTYPES EXCEL IN LATEST WINTER TESTING AND DEVELOPMENT CYCLE
    April 25, 2025
    ELECTRIFIED LUXURY REDEFINED: THE ALL-NEW LEXUS ES
    April 24, 2025
    Volvo EX90 claims World Luxury Car title
    April 17, 2025
    DFSK South Africa rolls out EC35 Electric Panel Van
    April 15, 2025
    The all-new electric G-Class
    April 10, 2025
  • Motosport
    MotosportShow More
    Castrol, NWM, Ford and bp Join Forces for 2025 South African Rally-Raid Championship
    April 25, 2025
    BEHIND THE SCENES WITH GILLY DYKES: DUST, GRIT AND DETERMINATION
    April 24, 2025
    Fouriesburg Rally Shifts to Spring
    April 23, 2025
    TOYOTA GAZOO RACING JUNIOR ACADEMY EYES MORE GLORY AT ROTAX NATIONAL ROUND 2
    April 23, 2025
    FINAL COUNTDOWN COMMENCES FOR SOUTH AFRICAN SAFARI RALLY
    April 22, 2025
  • Trucks & Buses
    Trucks & BusesShow More
    HINO ONCE AGAIN ANSWERS FARMERS’ CALL FOR HELP
    April 24, 2025
    Daimler Truck Southern Africa appoints Wolf Edmayr as the General Manager of TruckStore
    March 28, 2025
    ISUZU Motors South Africa Celebrates 60 Years of Isuzu Trucks in South Africa
    March 3, 2025
    Itumeleng Segage, General Manager of Hino South Africa
    HINO SCORES MORE THAN 99% IN ALL FOUR CUSTOMER CARE SURVEY CATEGORIES
    February 5, 2025
    UD TRUCKS SOUTHERN AFRICA DEEPENS ITS COMMITMENT
    January 28, 2025
  • Reviews
    ReviewsShow More
    Tow Like a Pro with the Ford Ranger
    April 10, 2025
    MEET THE ALL-NEW LEXUS GX: A PREMIUM OFF-ROADER REIMAGINED
    April 8, 2025
    Aston Martin Vanquish Volante: The world’s fastest, most powerful front-engine convertible
    March 29, 2025
    The legend grows: introducing the Toyota Hilux Hybrid 48v and GR SPORT II
    March 29, 2025
    THE ALL-NEW GWM P300 – BRING IT ON!
    March 3, 2025
  • Tech
    TechShow More
    Chery unveils AiMOGA: Revolutionising the car-buying experience through intelligent robotics
    April 24, 2025
    Volvo Cars uses AI and virtual worlds with the aim to create safer cars
    March 21, 2025
    Chery drives AI innovation with DeepSeek partnership
    March 3, 2025
    Stellantis Unveils STLA AutoDrive
    February 20, 2025
    Mercedes-Benz and Google Partner on AI-powered Conversational Search within Navigation Systems
    January 14, 2025
Hot News
Chery launches LEPAS brand with L8 luxury SUV, ushering in a new premium era
RANGE ROVER ELECTRIC PROTOTYPES EXCEL IN LATEST WINTER TESTING AND DEVELOPMENT CYCLE
Castrol, NWM, Ford and bp Join Forces for 2025 South African Rally-Raid Championship
Multifaceted MasterDrive at Simola
ELECTRIFIED LUXURY REDEFINED: THE ALL-NEW LEXUS ES
Latest News

The upgraded Audi Q8 and SQ8 arrive in South Africa

Electric Vehicles

Takealot goes green with JAC N75 EV battery-electric trucks

Reviews

LAND ROVER CLASSIC INTRODUCES NEW CLASSIC DEFENDER PARTS AT GOODWOOD REVIVAL

Latest News

BMW Group to invest more than 100 million euros in Wackersdorf site by 2026

Font ResizerAa
The Auto MagazineThe Auto Magazine
  • Home
  • Auto Shows
  • Bikes
  • News
  • Concepts
  • EVs
  • Motosport
  • Trucks & Buses
  • Reviews
  • Tech
Search
  • Home
  • Auto Shows
  • Bikes
  • News
  • Concepts
  • EVs
  • Motosport
  • Trucks & Buses
  • Reviews
  • Tech
Follow US
Crafted by Intellegere Media. © 2024 The Auto Magazine. All rights reserved.
Latest News

BUGATTI BOLIDE MAKES SPECTACULAR PUBLIC DEBUT AT LE MANS CENTENARY

On the centenary of one of the most revered motorsport events in the world, Bugatti returned to Le Mans, showcasing the Bolide to the public for the very first time with a legendary and highly decorated driver taking to the wheel of the brand’s high-performance track-only hyper sports car.

Itumeleng Garebatshabe
Last updated: June 13, 2023 10:34
By Itumeleng Garebatshabe
462 Views
7 Min Read
Share
7 Min Read
SHARE

Bugatti’s esteemed motorsport heritage is intrinsically entwined with the history of Le Mans 24 Hours. Over the course of many years – 10 decades in fact – the Molsheim luxury brand has realized unforgettable milestone moments at the motorsport event. And in perfect timing to celebrate 100 years of Le Mans 24 Hours, Bugatti this weekend delivered another magical moment to onlooking crowds.

On the hallowed asphalt on which so much history has been made, the Bugatti Bolide took a track lap at the Le Mans 24 Hours circuit on Saturday afternoon. As it did, an energizing atmosphere – meshing genuine surprise and excitement with absolute respect – ushered across the crowds as spectators were given not one but two defining moments: the Bolide presented in its full glory to the public for the very first time and Andy Wallace, a Le Mans winner of 1988, taking to the wheel of the track-only hyper sports car in a showstopping lap.

One of the world’s finest endurance racers, Andy, who has been a Pilote Officiel for Bugatti since 2011, is part of a very select group of people to have won the Triple Crown of Le Mans 24 Hours, 24 Hours of Daytona and the 12 Hours of Sebring. Such a peerless track record in racing is the perfect fit to oversee the Bolide’s first public outing. Speaking moments after driving the Bolide, Andy said: “To take to the wheel of the Bolide at this year’s Le Mans 24 Hours was a very special moment; the energy from the crowd and how they connected to the car is something that will stay with me for a lifetime.

“The Bolide looks and feels – in every respect – like a real racing car with genuine outstanding high-performance capabilities. The fact that it generates around twice its own weight in downforce at maximum speed, giving the car a very high level of grip and stability in high-speed corners is in its own right incredibly impressive. But to then match that prowess with Bugatti’s W16 engine, developing 1,600 PS, takes the Bolide to an entirely new level. The car is breath-taking in every sense.”

Christophe Piochon, President of Bugatti Automobiles, added: “There can be no better way than to celebrate 100 years of Le Mans by debuting a Bugatti tour-de-force that is simply unlike anything we have ever done before. Bugatti and the 24 Hours of Le Mans have a deep and long held connection – we were there at the very first race 100 years ago. I speak on behalf of Bugatti when I say we are therefore incredibly proud to have delivered another historic and unique moment at Le Mans, a moment that will forever be cherished.”

At the nucleus of the Bolide is Bugatti’s iconic quad turbo 8.0-litre W16 heart, deftly encased within an aerodynamically optimized carbon body. To achieve the track-focused maximum performance of the Bolide, the brakes are an essential component. Inspired by F1 technology, the experts at Brembo S.p.A, an Italian based world leader in the field of automotive brake technology, have created a highly advanced and tailored braking system for the Bolide with 390 mm brake discs and unique calipers (8 pistons on the front axle and 6 pistons on the rear axle), ensuring the car’s stopping power can master its outstanding dynamic driving capabilities.

Making the centenary of the 24 Hours of Le Mans event even more special this weekend was the presence of two extraordinary Bugatti automobiles in addition to the public debut of the Bolide. Taking to the circuit on Saturday, following Andy’s drive of the Bolide, was a one-off blue Bugatti EB110S “Le Mans”, which took part in the highly acclaimed Parade of the Grande Exposition Du Centenaire. This legendary car participated in the world-famous race in 1994, exactly 55 years after Bugatti’s last victory at Le Mans. An accident – following technical problems – unfortunately ended the race too early for the iconic blue Bugatti, but it nevertheless left a lasting impression in the hearts of motorsport fans worldwide. Seeing the EB110S LM take to the revered asphalt once more captured yet another historic Bugatti moment for onlookers that reveled in the experience.

The illustrious Bugatti Type 50S was on display as part of a special centenarian exhibition at the 24 Hours of Le Mans Museum. In the early 1930s, several examples of the Type 50S took part in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and in the 1931 race there were three competing examples. As part of a protest against the racing officials, Ettore Bugatti had the three cars start that year in black instead of the usual French Racing Blue. Among others, the legendary racing drivers Louis Chiron and Albert Divo started for Bugatti. Throughout the competition, the three Type 50S cars fought for the leading positions for a long time, but the tires struggled to match the power, pace and performance of the Type 50S’s. Following a tragic accident involving one of the Type 50S racers, Ettore decided to withdraw the two remaining cars from the race. On display at this year’s event, the Type 50S is graced with the starting number 5, which was driven back in 1931 by Albert Divo and Guy Bouriat, thrilled fans wanting to experience motorsport history in the present day.

The EB110S LM, Type 50S and the first public outing of the Bolide made what was already a special historic motorsport gathering at the weekend even more extraordinary, adding a sense of timelessness that only a brand like Bugatti can generate.

TAGGED:BolideBugattiLe Mans 24 Hours

Sign Up For Daily Newsletter

Stay Updated! Get the latest breaking news delivered straight to your inbox.

By signing up, you agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe at any time.
Share This Article
Facebook Whatsapp Whatsapp LinkedIn VKontakte Telegram Email Copy Link Print
Share
ByItumeleng Garebatshabe
Editor
Follow:
Itumeleng is the Managing Editor of The Auto Magazine. He is a tech and car enthusiast

Follow US

FacebookLike
XFollow
InstagramFollow
YoutubeSubscribe
TiktokFollow
TelegramFollow
Google NewsFollow
LinkedInFollow

You Might Also Like

Concepts

W16 Mistral: the art of bringing Bugatti’s ultimate roadster to life

By Itumeleng Garebatshabe
January 24, 2024
Latest News

Two decades of dedication for six of the Bugatti team

By Itumeleng Garebatshabe
December 6, 2023
Latest News

Timeless Bugatti models set new auction records

By Itumeleng Garebatshabe
May 5, 2024
Concepts

TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Unveils “GR H2 Racing Concept” at Le Mans 24 Hours

By Itumeleng Garebatshabe
June 12, 2023
Latest News

BUGATTI BOLIDE ENTERS NEXT PHASE OF TESTING

By Itumeleng Garebatshabe
April 24, 2023
Motosport

LE MANS AWAITS TOYOTA GAZOO RACING

By Itumeleng Garebatshabe
June 7, 2024

The Auto Magazine

  • Advertise
  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Cookie Policy
  • Bikes
  • Electric Vehicles
  • Trucks & Buses
  • Auto Shows
  • Latest News
  • Motosport

Crafted by Intellegere Media. All rights reserved. 2024

Don't not sell my personal information
Join Us!
Subscribe to our newsletter and never miss our latest news, podcasts etc.

Zero spam, Unsubscribe at any time.
adbanner