They did it. They actually did it. The new Bugatti Chiron has broken the almost mythical 300 mph barrier for a production car. The attempt was made by Bugatti test driver Andy Wallace, who was driving a pre-production version of the Chiron, at the test track at Ehra-Lessien in Lower Saxony.
Wallace had to be very precise with his acceleration during the attempt. It started with acceleration up to 124 mph out of the north curve, then a push towards top speed across a 5.46-mile straight before decelerating back down to 124 mph before the south bend. The result was a TÜV-certified top speed of 304.773 mph.
For the Chiron used in the attempt, Bugatti ensured Wallace’s safety through a variety of modifications made with race specialist Dallara and tire manufacturer Michelin. The Michelin high-speed tires were reinforced so they could handle the world-record attempt. Wallace was kept safe with a six-point belt system and an additional safety cell.
“Bugatti has once again shown what it’s capable of. With this new record of the Chiron we enter again uncharted territory. Never before has a series manufacturer reached this high speed,” says Stephan Winkelmann, President of Bugatti.
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