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| www.QV500.com - Bugatti EB110 Part 3: Competition History |
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Although the EB110 was among the worlds very fastest cars, it was never conceptualised for racing. GT series were practically non-existent during the late eighties, scratch-built Prototypes ruling the endurance roost while genuine production cars were left on the sidelines. The re-emergence of GT racing was fully underway by 1994 though and it was no great surprise when a couple of privateers decided they wanted to compete with Bugatti's. The EB110’s competitive debut came in 1994’s Le Mans 24 Hours after the ACO had outlawed Prototypes from competing. |
This kick-started a golden period for the sport as great marques like Ferrari, Porsche, BMW, Lotus, Jaguar, McLaren, Lister and Mercedes were tempted back to La Sarthe with Grand Touring machinery. Campaigned by the French Synergic outfit for media mogul, Michel Hommell, his EB110 GT was only mildly uprated. The four-wheel drive machine was fitted with supplementary front lights and a fixed rear wing, the stripped-out interior probably saving around 100kg. Driven by a high quality all-French line up, the car was piloted by 1993 Le Mans winner, Eric Helary, Williams Grand Prix test driver, Jean Christophe Bouillon and touring car ace, Alain Cudini. Entered in the GT1 category, the EB110 was fastest in its class during practice, this no mean feat considering the quality of competition that year with the Bugatti up against some very quick Porsche, Viper and Venturi entrants. However, the crack Dauer Porsche team dropped a bombshell by running a road-going 962 prototype in the race, a car easily capable of beating most of the previous years Group C grid. The drama didn’t stop there though as just an hour prior to the race beginning, one of the Synergic mechanics discovered a fuel leak. |
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This had to be repaired with Araldite and meant the squad began with half tanks and took it easy until the adhesive had dried. Quickly regaining places thereafter, the EB110’s speed impressed all and sundry before passing Larbre's Porsche RSR to take up a position as the first genuine GT in the race (besides Dauer's runaway 962 that went on to win). However, turbo problems on Saturday evening meant a lengthy pit-stop for all four to be replaced, the galant Bugatti continuing until Sunday morning when a tyre failure on the Mulsanne saw the car crash out after 230 laps. |
| After Le Mans, another notable EB110 began competing in the USA, a lightweight two-wheel drive SS being campaigned in a handful of North American IMSA events during 1995. This car was run by the Monaco Racing Team who prepared it for Monte Carlo-domiciled businessman, Gildo Pastor Pallanca. Racing in the GTS-1 class, Pallanca’s set up never lacked for anything and he signed ex-Ferrari Grand Prix ace Patrick Tambay to drive alongside him in the cars June 1995 debut at the Watkins Glen 3 Hours. Qualifying an impressive 25th overall was a real achievement considering Ferrari’s mighty 333 SP’s and many other prototypes were running, Tambay and Pallanca went on to finish a respectable 19th overall and fifth in GTS-1. Pallanca also raced in the Sears Point round, teaming up this time with another ex-F1 driver in Frenchman Olivier Grouillard and Derek Hill, son of 1961 F1 World Champion Phil. Qualifying 22nd, the SS eventually took 16th overall and sixth in GTS-1. Pallanca did take his SS to Le Mans for pre-qualifying in April 1996 with Patrick Tambay, but the outing ended in disaster after Tambay crashed heavily during practice and destroyed the carbon fibre tub. |
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