Just to see a Bugatti Bolide—all wings and flaps and aerodynamics—is an experience. To hear the 1,578-hp W16 fire up is even rarer. But to see eight of them screaming around an F1 track at full speed is truly a once-in-a-lifetime event. Last Sunday, March 5, eight Bolides did laps on the same circuit the F1 cars will run, the Miami International Autodrome. Here are a few photos of that event. Sadly, there’s no sound.
Bugatti Bolides are designed as exclusive track-only machines, with only 40 units produced for customers. These vehicles are not designed for public roads and meet on the track during specialized, curated events arranged by Bugatti, events which began only last year.
Last Sunday at Miami International Autodrome, Bugatti invited its Bolide owners to experience an event it called Feeling The Track—“an immersive journey into performance at its most uncompromising.”
First was a tech session to make sure everyone understood what happens when 1,578 hp is let loose.
“From vehicle behavior and braking techniques to an understanding of the circuit’s flowing straights and technical sequences, each facet of the mission ahead was introduced with clarity and intent—as drivers prepared for a progression designed to build confidence step by step, supported throughout by a seasoned team of performance engineers,” Bugatti said.
Before driving the Bolides, they got laps in McLaren 750S supercars, “allowing participants to learn to read the track and refine their lines under the guidance of highly accomplished instructors.”
Then the chalk talk. “A dedicated technical briefing prepared drivers for the car’s singular nature: extreme aerodynamics generating formidable downforce, racing slicks operating within narrow performance windows and power delivery calibrated for pure, unbridled circuit use.”
The drives were broken up into five coaching sessions, each lasting 45 minutes. These combined installation laps, extended performance runs and comprehensive debriefs…