100 Years on Bugatti Legends Retrace a Road Trip to the French Grand Prix
Photo Bugatti
In 1924 Bugatti dispatched five of its brand-new Type 35 race cars from the factory in Molsheim to Lyon to take part in the French Grand Prix. A century later Bugatti enthusiasts from around the world retraced the 600-mile journey.
Some 49 Bugattis, including one Type 35 which took part in the original race, converged at the stunning Château Saint Jean, bought by Ettore Bugatti in 1928, to begin the celebratory road trip.
It was a rather more leisurely drive and, after a short detour to visit the world’s largest collection of Bugatti cars housed in the Musée National de l’Automobile at Mulhouse, the vintage car fans followed the exact same route taken in 1924.
The priceless convoy battled storms as it crossed the Vosges mountains to the plateau of Lyon. In Lyon the Bugattis joined a further 120 pre-war cars to mark the 100 years since the famous race took place, before climbing through the hairpins turns of the Monts du Lyonnais for a dramatic finish.
"We are delighted to have brought together Bugatti enthusiasts from across the globe, traveling from nine countries, to celebrate the historic milestone of the Bugatti Type 35," said Olivier Bohin, organiser of the tour and member of the Club Bugatti France. “For us to have been able to commence our specially curated event in Molsheim, where Ettore’s adventure first started, was simply the perfect way to start the experience. Connecting the past to the present is a value that is intrinsically important for both the Bugatti brand and Club Bugatti France, allowing for our guests to feel the connection and experience emotional moments that will last a lifetime.”
High in the Pyrenees mountains, on the Col du Portillon, there’s a brief moment where your front wheels will be in Spain, while the rears remain in France.