24h Le Mans
24 HOURS CENTENARY – MAKES, MARQUES and IMPRINTS ⎮ A symbol of the ultimate driving luxury in the era between the two world wars, Bugatti reached the top step on the podium twice at the race. Now a paragon of extreme sports cars, the second circuit hosting special races and events at Le Mans bears its name.
Bugatti's legacy at the 24 Hours began at the very first running in 1923. The only car fielded by the marque that year, a Brescia, made it into the top 10 thanks to Max de Pourtalès and Sosthène de La Rochefoucauld.
Four years later, Ettore Bugatti introduced his most famous road car, the Type 41 called the Royale. A hallmark of the constructor's proverbial luxury, the car was the ideal representation of the founder's motto: "If it is comparable, it is no longer Bugatti." Unfortunately, the Royale found itself a collateral victim of the economic crisis of 1929, with only seven cars produced between 1927 and 1933. Six are still in circulation today, and their popularity on the collector's market is on par with Bugatti's reputation.
Despite this quasi-failure in the domain of road cars, Bugatti definitively earned its place in the 24 Hours hall of fame in the 1930s.
In 1930, Marguerite Mareuse formed an all-female duo with Odette Siko and fielded a Type 40, finishing seventh overall. Thereafter, Bugatti experienced mixed results, finishing sixth in 1932, ninth in 1934 and 14th in 1935.
The marque failed to achieve great success until the arrival of the Type 57, nicknamed the Tank for the astonishing balance between its rounded aerodynamic lines and aggressive appearance.
Jean-Pierre Wimille won twice with the Type 57: in 1937 with Robert Benoist (one of the top French drivers of the interwar period) and again with Pierre Veyron in 1939. Both wins were accompanied by new distance records set at 3,287 km in 1937 then 3,354 km two years later.
However, the marque was unable to survive the string of setbacks that followed: the premature death of Ettore Bugatti's son Jean in a road accident during a testing session on 11 August 1939, World War II, post-war economic difficulties and Ettore's death in 1947. The constructor attempted several relaunches in the decades that followed, including one that led to a participation in the 24 Hours in the 1990s.
At the 1994 24 Hours, 55 years after Bugatti's last appearance and win, French media magnate Michel Hommell entered an EB 110. Released on 15 September 1991, the GT with a turbocharged 3.5-litre V12 engine was named as a tribute to Ettore Bugatti's 110th birthday.
The EB 110 was entrusted to the previous year's winner, French driver Éric Hélary (in a Peugeot shared with Christophe Bouchut and Geoff Brabham), and fellow countrymen Jean-Christophe Boullion and Alain Cudini. The EB 110 honoured an old tradition at the 24 Hours, arriving at Scrutineering by roadway.
After qualifying in 17th position, the #34 Bugatti climbed to sixth before incurring turbocompressor troubles, then was forced to retire just 45 minutes from the chequered flag after an incident.
In 2005, seven years after the marque's resurrection under the aegis of the Volkswagen Group, Bugatti presented the Veyron.
Named after 1939 winner Pierre Veyron, this exceptional car was powered by a turbocharged 1,001 hp 16-cylinder W engine, with 450 units produced until 2015. It was equipped with a computer-controlled hydraulic system that adapted its aerodynamic configuration according to speed. By lowering the ground clearance and deploying a rear spoiler, the Veyron exceeded a top speed of 400 kph.
This abundance of power and technology made the car a worthy heir to Bugatti's 1930s glory days exorbitance. Bugatti and Bentley are now the only constructors to compete in the first 24 Hours in 1923 still active today, both under the Volkswagen Group.
ACO president from 1951 to 1973, Jean-Marie Lelièvre himself owned several Bugattis, and felt the marque perfectly embodied French automotive excellence of the interwar period. He followed through with this belief by christening the permanent circuit at Le Mans inaugurated in 1966 none other than Bugatti.
The Bugatti circuit hosted one French Formula 1 Grand Prix, in 1967, won by Jack Brabham. It has served as the stage for the 24H Motos since the race's inception in 1978 (this year's running is this weekend 15-16 April). The circuit also welcomes 24-hour races for several other disciplines like trucks, bikes and rollerblades.
On 9 November 2003, Centenary ambassador Tom Kristensen competed at the Bugatti circuit in the one-off 1000 km of Le Mans. Thirty-five cars took the start and the top 2 in each class earned an automatic invitation to the 2004 24 Hours.
The Danish driver won the race at the wheel of an Audi R8 shared with Japanese driver Seiji Ara. They were flanked on the podium by the Courage of Sébastien Bourdais/Franck Lagorce/Stéphane Sarrazin (Pescarolo Sport) and the Dome of Jan Lammers/Andy Wallace (Racing for Holland). Five previous 24 Hours winners participated in the 1000 km of Le Mans: Tom Kristensen, Jan Lammers, Andy Wallace, Christophe Bouchut and Stéphane Ortelli. Seiji Ara joined their ranks on 13 June 2004, winning the 72nd 24 Hours along with Kristensen and Dindo Capello.
PHOTOS: LE MANS (SARTHE, FRANCE), CIRCUIT DES 24 HEURES, 24 HOURS OF LE MANS. From top to bottom: (Copyright - ACO/Archives) the first version of the Type 57 winner in 1937; seventh in 1930 with a Bugatti, Odette Siko (at right) would go on to secure the best result by a female driver, with fourth place at the wheel of an Alfa Romeo in 1932; the start in 1939 after which the only Bugatti fielded (#1) won the race; the Bugatti EB110 at Scrutineering after arriving at Le Mans by roadway; 1939 winners Pierre Veyron (at right on the car) and teammate Jean-Pierre Wimille (at his right); (Copyright - Michel Jamin/ACO) the marque's 110th anniversary was celebrated in July 2019 at the Bugatti circuit during the Classic Days event.
