I Feel The Need...

Luckily we’re in the right place to reach brain-melting numbers – Bugatti’s Ehra-Lessien facility.

- Charlie Turner

Speed is relative. If you’ve been lucky enough to fly off on holiday this year, you’ll have done 350kph as you trundle down the runway, then cruised at 800–1000kph as you battle with the tray table and in-flight food options. I have no doubt some of you will have been to the toilet at this velocity – congratulations. Clearly, our perception of speed is skewed by the environment. Back on the ground, speed is currency. In a world where bragging rights drive purchase decisions, the ability to say “My car is faster than yours” matters. The Bugatti Chiron Sport has a claimed (and limited) top speed of 420kph. To date, no one outside of the Bugatti development team has experienced Vmax in a Chiron. My task – if I pass my high-speed training – is to hit the magic number at Bugatti’s top secret Ehra-Lessien test facility. Why me? Because if a middle-aged ex-tractor driver can do it, anyone can.

To gain access to the Schnellbahn, with its 8.7-kilometre straight, I’m required to complete and pass the Supersport course – the highest grade of driver training within the VW group. I arrive at the security gates to be met by Michal Kutina, Ehra’s head of training, and after grabbing an R8 from the car park, head to the Schnellbahn for my first experience of the legendary banking.

Not wanting to waste any time, Michal nails the R8 and fires it into the corner at 200kph. At this speed, the car self-steers around the top level – something Michal duly demonstrates by taking both hands off the wheel and turning to talk to me. He exits the banking, swoops down into the middle lane and accelerates to the R8’s indicated maximum of 331kph.

“You see? Easy. And in a Chiron, it’s even easier – you can sleep in a Chiron at 400kph.” “And at 420?” I ask.