Le Mans Yesterday and Today: Bugatti

Just outside the Top 10 of the most successful constructors at Le Mans, in 11th place, sits a brand that needs no introduction: Bugatti. In the first 24 Hours race in 1923, Bugatti entered two small Brescia 16S cars, renowned for their lightness and reliability, in an era when many race cars were large and unwieldy. Despite a challenging race due to almost continuous rain, drivers de Pourtalès and de La Rochefoucauld managed a 10th place finish—a promising start hinting at the potential Bugatti could bring to endurance racing.

After a break until 1930, Bugatti returned to the Circuit de la Sarthe with a Type 40, privately entered by Odette Siko and co-driven by Marguerite Mareuse—a female team that finished in 7th place, making a sensation as Bugatti was already a status symbol back then.

In the first race in 1923, two Bugatti Brescia Type 16Ss competed, with car number 29 finishing a respectable 10th.

In the years following, Bugatti saw mixed fortunes at Le Mans. Despite some solid performances (6th in 1932, 9th in 1934, and 14th in 1935), the ingredients for a podium finish never quite came together. In 1937, the breakthrough came with the new Type 57 Grand Prix (later shortened to Type 57G), earning Bugatti’s first victory at Le Mans with Jean-Pierre Wimille and Robert Benoist at the wheel. They completed the race with around 100 km more than the runner-up, setting a new distance record. This innovative car, nicknamed “Tank” due to its aerodynamically welded magnesium-alloy body covering the wheels, was powered by an 8-cylinder inline engine with 3266cc and 170hp, reaching over 200 km/h on the Hunaudières straight.

Bugatti's first Le Mans victory came in 1937 with the Type 57G “Tank”, driven to victory by Jean-Pierre Wimille and Robert Benoist.

The following year, Bugatti had to retire due to mechanical issues. But in 1939, they returned in great style with the Type 57C, a natural evolution of its victorious predecessor just 48 months prior. The 8-cylinder engine was upgraded to 200hp, and the car’s top speed exceeded 250 km/h thanks to aerodynamic refinements. It wasn’t an easy win, with competitors like Alfa Romeo’s new 6C 2500 SS and Delage’s D6 on the track. However, performance and reliability rewarded the Type 57C, securing Bugatti's second and final victory at Le Mans, with Jean-Pierre Wimille and Pierre Veyron behind the wheel.

In 1939, Bugatti achieved its second and last Le Mans win with the Type 57C, driven by Jean-Pierre Wimille and Pierre Veyron.

World War II halted the 24 Hours race for several years, and it would be a long time before another Bugatti appeared at Le Mans. The company closed, and only with its revival in 1994—exactly 55 years after its last victory—did it return. The entry was the EB110 Super Sport, which unfortunately couldn’t complete the race due to a turbocharger issue.

In 1994, 55 years after its last Le Mans victory, Bugatti returned with the EB110 Super Sport in GT1 class, but a turbocharger issue forced its retirement.

In 2023, marking the centenary of Le Mans, Bugatti returned to the Circuit de la Sarthe with the dynamic public debut of the Bolide, a track-exclusive car produced in only 40 units. Driven by Le Mans winner Andy Wallace (1988), the supercar completed a lap of the Circuit de la Sarthe before the actual race began. It was a symbolic presence—a marketing operation that, for now, doesn’t seem to indicate a true return to racing. Only time will tell: the 24 Hours will always be there!

The Bugatti Bolide, a track-exclusive hypercar, made its live debut at Le Mans 2023. Could it herald a future racing comeback?