Bugatti: Maximum safety is the goal 🎥
BACKGROUND Ever since the Type 13 with its in-line 8-cylinder engine took the first victory for Bugatti at the 1920 Grand Prix de la Sarthe, the brand has been inextricably linked with international motorsport.
The Type 35, which made its debut on the racetrack four years after the Type 13 and took more than 2,000 podium places in the course of its long racing career, cemented Bugatti's reputation as a manufacturer of successful race cars. In addition to performance and precision, a hypercar for the race track must also offer a high level of safety. That's why the Bugatti Bolide features a new carbon monocoque developed to the same LMH and LMDh requirements of the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) as for Le Mans race cars.
Proportions of a catamaran
The monocoque is reminiscent of the proportions of a sleek catamaran, so the driver and front passenger sit perfectly balanced in the vehicle. This arrangement also allows the W16 powertrain to be positioned 60 millimeters further forward than in the Chiron, ensuring an ideal layout for use on the racetrack.
Strictest safety regulations
The FIA safety requirements for the LMH and LMDh race cars were decisive for the development of the new structure and were chosen because they are among the strictest safety regulations in the world of motorsport. For a hypercar inspired by motorsport greats, safety factors such as rollover protection are of great importance. One of the most demanding FIA tests requires a load of 7.5 tons on the A-pillar of the car.
Monocoque technically perfected
Christian Willmann, chief engineer for the Bolide: "From the moment we decided to turn the Bolide's vision into reality, we knew we would be focusing uncompromisingly on several key design and development areas. To pass the rigorous but crucial safety tests, we had to ensure that everything about the monocoque was technically perfected so that the Bolide would be a safe vehicle on the race track in every driving situation."
Weight of only 1450 kilograms
The passive safety features are complemented by motorsport-leading active safety technologies. Traction control, stability control and anti-lock brakes ensure that the Bolide offers maximum safety. The Bolide's W16 engine produces 1600 hp at 7000 rpm and delivers maximum torque of 1600 Nm from 2250 rpm. Dry, the car weighs just 1450 kilograms.
