Bugatti Veyron Test Driver Recalls Emergency Braking at 249 mph: "Immense Pressure"

Former Bugatti Veyron high-speed test driver Loris Bicocchi recently recalled that braking hard from 249 mph (approximately 401 km/h) was "extremely tense." He joined the Veyron prototype testing program in 2001 and performed extreme driving tests at the Michelin Ladoux track and Volkswagen Group’s Ehra-Lessien proving ground. Bicocchi noted that once speeds exceed 186 mph (300 km/h), the driving experience changes completely, requiring drivers to re-establish all handling references. He also recounted a harrowing incident: while driving at 247 mph on Italy’s Nardò Ring, his left front tire blew out, causing the hood to fly off and shatter the windshield. The car then spun out of control and slid for 1.8 kilometers before finally coming to a stop. Despite this dangerous experience, he later participated in testing the Chiron. Bugatti has paused its top-speed challenges since 2019, but CEO Mate Rimac has hinted that the company may aim to break the 500 km/h barrier in the future—provided it can develop tires capable of withstanding such speeds.