When Andy Wallace drove his Bugatti Chiron Super Sport into the record books at 304.773mph on high-speed test track at Ehra-Lessien in 2019, shattering the previous road car record by nearly 10% and setting a mark unlikely to be broken for decades, it was as if he had been training for the moment for his whole life.
Volkswagen's Wallace had quite recently retired from a distinguished 32-year racing career in which he had specialised in the World Sports Car Championship, driving the fastest racing cars of them all. By that stage he had been Bugatti's official test and development driver for nearly a decade, perhaps spending more time above 200mph in these roles than anyone else on Earth.
For even the best drivers, racing cars as a career usually ends somewhere between the ages of 40 and 50. But Wallace's keen grasp of automotive technology plus his enduring driving skills and his unique ability to empathise with both engineers and potential Bugatti customers - has preserved and cemented his close connection with the maker of the world's fastest road cars. He fully expects it to continue into Bugatti's new era, now that the marque is being re-founded under the leadership of the extraordinary Croatian entrepreneur Mate Rimac. Those who know Wallace well point to other traits beside his rare driving ability and technical insights. What marks him out is his humility, they say, his lifelong ability to get on with people of all kinds and his enduring role as an ambassador for hypercars as a breed, laying emphasis on their safe and responsible enjoyment. In a nutshell, this is also why we at Autocar are proud to award Andy Wallace our Lifetime Achievement trophy for 2023.
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
MG 4
An EV changes your driving style - but not to the detriment of pleasure
PEUGEOT E-208
Time with our French hatch is up. Is it good riddance or au revoir?
In the hot seat
Is the best automotive job in the world actually in miniature scale? Hot Wheels' design boss assures STEPHEN DOBIE it is
Correcting the record
Autocar invented the road test back in 1928 - or did we? KEITH JONES trawls the past to find the true starting point
Road test rebooted
As the Autocar road test forges into its second century, its brief is expanding and it's returning to a familiar place. MATT SAUNDERS explains
Cyber attack
MG is back on the international stage and now trying to return to its sports car roots. MATT SAUNDERS sees if the Cyberster EV can match up to a rival from the present and a relation from the past
KIA PICANTO
As rivals fall by the wayside, Kia's popular city car gets a makeover
MASERATI GRANTURISMO
Latest coupé in a long line of Maserati GT cars hits the UK with V6 power
PORSCHE CAYENNE GTS COUPE
New V8 model gets all the goodies
TOYOTA PRIUS
Back by popular demand with a cool new look and greater driver appeal