Bugatti test driver Pierre-Henri Raphanel recently put the Chiron and the Chiron Sport through its paces at the legendary Paul Ricard racetrack near Les Castellet in Southern France.
Raphanel commented, “Where better to test a hyper sportscar extensively and safely than on a racetrack? Even novices quickly feel at home here.”
Circuit Le Castellet is a perfect course for testing. Many Formula 1 races have taken place there and will again this year. Situated 40km outside Marseille, the circuit is considered to be the forerunner of the modern GP circuit. Of 15 curves, nine are left and six right. The starting line is followed by a 590m-long straight – ideal for feeling the enormous acceleration forces of a Chiron. This is followed by a small S-curve, a short straight line, a right-left combination and a double-right curve.
“Here you can experience how the Chiron works and, thanks to its ingenious chassis, even contact with the curbs is safely ruled out”.
On the Mistral straight, top speed can be reached, briefly interrupted by a right-left-right combination. At the end follows a slight right turn, a short straight and a double right. Shortly before the start-finish straight, the race track runs in tight corner combinations that are driven round at low speeds.
Laps of the race circuit were not the only thing on the company’s two-day testing agenda. Routes on normal roads were also part of the program.