Bugatti EB110SS "Competitizone" GT1 Monaco Racing Team #01 1996

[Kingofweasles]

Taken from Petrolicious.com & DoubleDeClutch.com


in March 1995, 28-year-old businessman Gildo Pallanca Pastor set the world ice speed record of 296.34 km/h (over 184 mph) in a modified Bugatti EB110 SS on a frozen sea in Oulu, Finland with the record being set on winter tyres without spikes. With an established technical support from Bugatti’s Campogalliano factory, the Monegasque National made an agreement with Bugatti bigwigs for another task: build an EB110 SS for the 24 Hours of Le Mans, following the lead of Michel Hommel who entered an EB110SS in the 1994 Le Mans 24 Hours.

With former Ligier Formula 1 member Daniel Pernoud appointed director of the project, the group set out to build the ultimate EB110Competizione—as if a stock SS wasn’t superlative enough. The modifications included a carbon fiber front splitter, polycarbonate side windows, FIA-spec roll cage, made-for-the-car quick-disconnect BBS magnesium wheels, Magnetti Marelli instrumentation, race buckets with harnesses and more. The weight savings added up to more than 440-pounds... And the car maintained its all-wheel drivetrain.

The team didn’t stop at aero bits and fat trimming alone. Engine number B11001 came with 611 horsepower, but was re-tuned in favor of a wider torque curve. In place of the heavy factory steel units, heat-shedding ceramic brakes were installed to help keep all four tires on the tarmac.

Nicknamed “The American Dream,” the EB110 SS Le Mans-aimed racer was first run in 1995 at the IMSA Watkins Glen 3 hours, qualifying 24th overall (10th in class) and finishing 19th (5th in class) with Pastor driving alongside Patrick Tambay. Following this was another IMSA race at Sears Point (6th in class), The BPR Suzuka 1000Km with Eric Helary (DNF following transmission problems), The BPR event at Zhuhai in China, and the 1996 Daytona 24 Hours where Derek Hill gave the car a strong showing early on in the wet before gearbox failure curtailed the car after 154 laps. The Bugatti performed well-enough and earned an invitation to Pre-Qualify for the 1996 Le Mans 24 Hours—Gildo’s end goal, at last.

Despite Bugatti’s bankruptcy, “The American Dream” was funded for its destined endurance. Accomplished Formula 1 driver Patrick Tambay was selected to drive for qualifying. Unfortunately, the racing veteran crashed the Bugatti during a qualifying lap. The team was unable to repair the damages in time, disappointingly giving the car a “non-starter” entry. Thankfully, the Monaco Racing Team stocked up on various spare parts when Bugatti went bankrupt, allowing the crew to make repairs. Reconstructed, the fallen Le Mans racer competed in a BPR GT event at Dijon—its final race.

Not a whole lot out there about this car, but as it's a completely different kettle of fish from the earlier Bugatti EB110 that tried to race at Le Mans and that it's based off of a car that set a world record, I feel it has a small place in a future Gran Turismo title.