Bugatti’s track only Bolide is undergoing its final shakedown runs at the Circuit de Mirecourt in France. The shakedown process involves a team of eight specialists for each session: two quality control drivers, a tire manager, a cooling manager, two mechanics and two electricians.
“Our relationship with Circuit de Mirecourt has been invaluable in ensuring that every Bolide meets our exacting standards. Their commitment to providing us with consistent track access has allowed the team to develop a rigorous and methodical approach to quality control for a car so extreme that there really was no benchmark for it. So, we developed our own, accepting nothing less than perfection,” said Philippe Grand, director of quality at Bugatti.
Bugatti’s track-focused shakedown process is split into two phases, each aimed at validating different aspects of the Bolide‘s performance.
The first phase focuses on laying a strong foundation and preparing the vehicle for more demanding tests. It begins with familiarizing the drivers and validating the steering at moderate speeds. Next, drivers perform progressive braking tests, starting at 50km/h and gradually increasing to 250km/h, allowing the braking system to break in smoothly. This phase also includes detecting irregular noises through lateral maneuvers and varied braking scenarios, with frequent technical inspections by specialized technicians in the pits. The team ensures that all dashboard parameters and driving functions are working optimally.
Once the car is deemed ready, the second phase pushes its capabilities to the limit while maintaining strict safety protocols. The team conducts intensive laps to gradually increase the temperature of the tires, brakes and gearbox. Drivers evaluate the stability and safety systems, including ABS and traction control, while also testing launch control to simulate extreme starting conditions. The process involves racing scenario simulations with multiple laps at speeds reaching 300km/h. Throughout testing, the team enforces cooling intervals, ensuring brakes cool to below 300°C and the engine stays under 90°C before further performance validation. The Bolide’s performance will also be tested under near-extreme conditions, with braking forces reaching up to -2.5g and brake temperatures peaking at 1,000°C.
“Our dedicated quality team has crafted a process with as much care and attention as the Bolide’s aerodynamicists spent honing the downforce, or the engineers spent perfecting the dynamics. Their work ensures that the W16’s purest expression in the Bolide delivers not just extraordinary performance, but does so with the reliability and quality that defines Bugatti,” said Grand.
