Monterey Car Week, an event synonymous with automotive excellence, provided the perfect backdrop for a momentous meeting of Bugatti legends, uniting the brand’s storied past with its cutting-edge present.
This year, the famed WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca witnessed the first-ever laps of a truly unique machine: the one-of-one Bolide 100-year anniversary edition. This track-focused marvel was joined by the iconic Bugatti Type 35, the car that inspired its design and whose legacy it now honors.
Under the Californian sun, these two extraordinary vehicles navigated the renowned Corkscrew and the track’s challenging elevation changes, creating a breathtaking display of speed and elegance.
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The significance of the occasion was not lost on those present, including Bugatti Rimac CEO Mate Rimac, President Christophe Piochon, Managing Director Hendrik Malinowski, and Director of Aftersales & Customer Service Alexis Ploix. For the Bugatti team, it was a powerful moment, encapsulating years of dedication and development while paying homage to the Type 35’s enduring influence.
With the Type 35 and the anniversary-edition Bolide showcased side by side in the Bugatti garage, enthusiasts and onlookers were offered a rare glimpse into the brand’s history and its forward-looking innovation. These two cars, though separated by a century, share a common DNA rooted in Bugatti’s commitment to track-focused performance. As President Christophe Piochon remarked, the Bolide 100-year anniversary edition is a track-bred tribute to the Type 35, exemplifying how Bugatti’s blend of elegance and speed has evolved over the decades.
The Type 35, which first turned heads at the Grand Prix de Lyon on August 3, 1924, quickly established itself as a groundbreaking force in motor racing, amassing over 2,500 victories across various disciplines, including road races, rallies, speed trials, and hill climbs. Its exceptional versatility and innovative design made it a benchmark for performance cars.
The 100-year anniversary edition Bolide honors this legacy with a livery steeped in historical references. The car’s finish, ‘Grand Prix Blue’, is a modern interpretation of the Type 35’s famous ‘Bleu de Lyon’, a color that became iconic following the Type 35’s debut race in 1924. Additional design elements pay tribute to the early Grand Prix racing era, with red-accented carbon on the exterior highlighting the national racing colors of France, Britain, Germany, and Italy.
Inside the Bolide, the craftsmanship continues with a cockpit adorned in pure carbon and featuring a meticulously crafted center console with an aluminum-milled inlay, finished in ‘engine turn’. The anniversary model’s seats are upholstered in exclusive leather, while the headrests bear the ‘100 Anniversaire’ embossing, complementing the anniversary decals on the side sills. A beautifully detailed trackplate, depicting the Type 35 and Bolide together in profile, adds a final, emotional touch to the interior.
As Bugatti continues to train future Bolide owners in the nuances of driving a track-only car, the brand took this opportunity at Laguna Seca to host a personalized briefing for one such customer. This future Bolide owner was visibly moved by the chance to see the car in action and to deepen their understanding of its unique capabilities.
This historic convergence of Bugatti’s past and present at Laguna Seca was more than just a display of automotive prowess—it was a celebration of the brand’s enduring legacy and its relentless pursuit of performance. The sight of these legendary machines on the asphalt will undoubtedly be remembered as a highlight in Bugatti’s storied history.
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