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Records, top performances and top marks, the super sports car world is currently chasing records again. Only last week Koenigsegg underpinned his previous one 0-400-0 world record. When it comes to start-top-stop-stop, the Swedish super sports car manufacturers are currently the undisputed leaders.
Bugatti Chiron world record 490,48 km/h
But another super sports car manufacturer also drew attention to itself a few days ago with an absolute top record. Because a Bugatti Chiron broke a new speed record with Bugatti brand ambassador Andy Wallace. On the test track in Ehra-Lessien in Lower Saxony, he accelerated his pre-series Chiron Sport 300+ to the unbelievable speed of 490,48 kilometers per hour.
Andy Wallace was close to the 500 mark
At this speed, one kilometer is about seven !!! seconds back. After the record, Andy Wallace gave an interview: “If the track had been longer, I could have kept my foot on the gas pedal a second longer. We wouldn't have cracked the 500 mark that way, but we might have been a few km/h faster. I don't believe that 490 km/h is the absolute top speed of the Chiron!"
Tire partner Michelin approved the tires of the Chiron Super Sport for speeds of up to 510 km/h. The record run should not fail because of the four black reels.
To get to that top speed, accelerate Andy wallace initially at 200 km/h out of the north curve. On the eight-kilometer straight, he really accelerated and set the record. He had to accelerate very precisely and calculate his speed precisely. Because he had to drive through the following south curve again at 200 km/h.
The higher the distance, the less air resistance
The test track in Ehra-Lessien is 50 meters above sea level, almost at sea level. In contrast to higher-lying high-speed routes such as in Nevada, the air pressure is close to sea level at 1013,25 hPa.
With increasing distance from sea level, the air becomes thinner, the number of air molecules per unit volume decreases. The reason is the air pressure gradient in the atmosphere, because the upper air layer masses weigh on the lower ones. Air lying below with its molecules is more compressed than air lying higher, so the pressure is higher. The air pressure drops by around 8 hPa for every 1 meters. Compared to sea level, the air pressure at 1.000 meters is only around 88 percent, at around 890 hPa.
So when air pressure and air density decrease, drag also decreases. Objects such as cars, airships or planes require less power. At an altitude of 5.000 meters, the density drops by about half, which means that the resistance is also halved. To put it simply, the car needs more power to drive through the air at sea level than if it were traveling at around 1.000 meters.
Before the record – computer simulations and wind tunnel tests
Before Andy Wallace got involved with the Bugatti Chiron Sport set off on the record run, computer simulations and wind tunnel tests were pending. “The slightest mistake could have ended in disaster. At that speed, planes usually take off,” Andy Wallace continues. Reinforced tyres, a special safety cell and a six-point harness system were therefore vital factors for Wallace.
The special edition of the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+: A limited special edition of 30 units is based on the record vehicle both visually and technically. With an output of 1.600 hp, the Chiron Super Sport 300+ outperforms the Chiron by 100 hp. Cost: 3,5 million euros (net).
Never before has a series manufacturer achieved such high speeds. So it remains to be seen in which discipline the next record will be broken.