This week’s video comes from Germany where a pre-production Bugatti Chiron derivative has been driven into the record books with a top speed of 304.773mph (490.484km/h).
The record-breaking run was certified by SGS-TÜV Saar after Bugatti test driver and Le Mans winner Andy Wallace pushed the car to the record on the test track at Ehra-Lessien on August 2, 2019.
“It’s inconceivable that a car would be capable of this,” said Wallace, who reached a record-breaking 234mph (391km/h) in a McLaren F1 on the same track in 1998. “But the Chiron was well-prepared and I felt very safe – even in these high speed ranges.”
Volkswagen unveils electric beast to tackle Pikes Peak
Kawasaki lawnmower sets new land speed record
According to Bugatti, Wallace worked his way up to the top speed from 300 km/h in 50km/h increments to make sure the Chiron was optimally balanced. After one lap to condition the car, Wallace accelerated from the north curve to 200km/h to reach top speed on the 8.8km straight.
“I went at full throttle from the start for approximately 70 seconds,” Wallace said in a statement. “It was important for me to be out of the bend at 200km/h in order to reach top speed on the straight. That required the very highest level of concentration.”
I used to be a fast car enthusiast – Now I just think, what’s the point of stunts like this – they’re just an irrelevance – We all have far more important stuff to channel our energies as designers and engineers.
Yes, but what a fantastically brilliant irrelevance!
There has to be some real engineering in there somewhere.
More power to their achievements and the bravery of Andy Wallace.
For goodness sakes, get a grip on reality. Spend your undoubted technical skills on bringing an electric “people wagon” to the street
I think they should go for +500km/h.
Another modern example of doing something just because we can and not because it is wanted or useful.
Right on, Bruce, Hugh, & John!
Fabulous achievement. Ignore the moaners.
We went to the moon – which is largely irrelevant – but there were a lot of useful technology spinoffs. Maybe there will be some from this – new tire materials / lightweight-but-stiff panels / improved fuel injection systems…Mr. Wallace has some cojones; I don’t feel real comfortable above 120 MPH…on public roads ; I’d go a little faster on a track ;-}
Awesome
I think that If it gets children interested in engineering it’s a good thing and worth doing.
Absolutely not an irrelevance. Extreme engineering like this is the developing ground for next generation everyday technology. The materials, technologies or knowledge developed through achieving a feat like this could be what, for example, makes future cars lighter, more aerodynamic, and hence more energy efficient. It could be what makes cars more stable and hence safer. It could be many things, but irrelevant is not likely to be one of them.
Top fuel dragster 0 to 334mph in 3.6 seconds, just as irrelevant as this.
Let’s see who can get an electric car to go 500 miles, carry 4 people in comfort and not take 2 hours to charge back up.
That’s where their talents should be focused.