The Breakdown
- Loris Bicocchi recalls going full throttle before braking from over 249 mph.
- High-speed testing took place at Ehra-Lessien.
- The prototype's acceleration was “crazy, almost inexplicable.”
We’re fortunate to be contemporaries of the Bugatti Veyron, a record-breaking car that boldly leapt into the unknown in the 2000s. Nothing quite like it had existed before, and it’s hard to imagine another supercar having such a profound impact, at least in our lifetimes. Even though most of us will never drive one, enthusiasts continue to put the W16 monster on a pedestal for its technical prowess and high-speed achievements.
Bugatti recently asked former high-speed testing expert Loris Bicocchi to recall what it was like driving Veyron prototypes for a living. He had already been part of the testing programs for the EB110 GT and EB110 SS between 1990 and 1995, before the Volkswagen Group took control of the Molsheim brand.
In 2001, four years before the Veyron entered production, the Italian test driver received a phone call from Bugatti and was asked to work on a new car. His first assignment was to climb behind the wheel of a red-and-black prototype at the Michelin test track in Ladoux, near Clermont-Ferrand:
'I didn’t know what to expect. I didn’t dare to go full throttle. It was so impressive – crazy, almost inexplicable. You immediately understood what this car stood for.'
Bicocchi explains that from 186 mph (300 km/h), “everything changes.” He had to reset “all the references” he had built throughout his career up to that point. This was despite the fact that he had already reached 214.1 mph (344.7 km/h) in an EB110 GT at Nardò, Italy, back in 1994. He also vividly recalls testing the Veyron at the VW Group’s Ehra-Lessien proving grounds:
'I remember being asked to fully accelerate and then apply full braking at more than 400 kilometers per hour [248.5 miles per hour]. It was incredibly stressful and exciting at the same time.'
Bugatti Veyron: Development and Testing
Bugatti Veyron Crash At 247 MPH
While Bugatti’s retrospective focuses largely on Bicocchi’s positive experiences with Veyron prototypes, it wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows. In a 2017 video attached below, one you should watch if you haven’t already, the former test driver detailed the harrowing crash he suffered at Nardò. A front-left tire explosion at 247 mph (398 km/h) sounds absolutely terrifying, yet he lived to tell the story.
The tire failure cracked the front bumper and damaged the hood, causing it to fly open and slam into the windshield. The glass shattered before the car hit the guardrail, which then triggered a rear-left tire blowout as the suspension broke apart. By that point, the brakes were no longer working, and Bicocchi couldn’t see anything ahead. His quick thinking likely saved his life, as he realized the only way to stop the car was by leaning it against the guardrail.
It took 1.1 miles (1.8 kilometers) of scraping along the barrier for the Veyron to finally come to a halt. Bugatti covered the repair costs, and Bicocchi later went on to test the Chiron as well.
Bugatti Retired From Chasing Records. Or Did It?
Bugatti stepped away from speed-record attempts in 2019, after test driver Andy Wallace reached 304.7 mph (490.4 km/h) at the same Ehra-Lessien oval. However, in late 2024, current CEO Mate Rimac hinted that the company might one day attempt to break the 500 km/h (311 mph) barrier, assuming suitable tires capable of withstanding such speeds become available. That effort would have to take place elsewhere, though, as Bugatti no longer has access to the VW Group’s proving grounds.
Motor1's Take: It’s fascinating to hear what it was like testing the Veyron straight from the man responsible for driving its prototypes. Bicocchi had previously tested another automotive icon, the Lamborghini Countach, but the Veyron operated on an entirely different level. His impressive résumé also includes work with Koenigsegg and Pagani, so there’s little doubt he has many more compelling stories to tell.
Although the Chiron went on to improve upon its predecessor’s statistics and the Tourbillon is likely to surpass them all, it’s the Veyron that will forever remain etched in our memories. Bicocchi and Bugatti truly made history by creating the first production car to break the 1,000-horsepower barrier.
Source: Bugatti
