Bugatti recently announced a series of six new extremely-limited edition ‘legend’ models that will all play homage to people that have played a part in Bugatti’s history – so called ‘Bugatti Legends’. All six editions will be revealed in the next year and this is the first, the Vitesse Jean Pierre Wimille, and will be unveiled at the Californian Monterey Auto Week in August.
This first limited run pays tribute to the French driver who twice won Le Mans behind the wheel of a Bugatti in the 1930s and will produce just three examples, all being finished in a similar blue to the originals. Jean-Pierre Wimille drove for Bugatti for several years, winning Le Mans in 1937 and 1939. He cemented himself as an icon of Formula 1 racing in the 30s and 40s and even returned after World War II to take another F1 victory in an Alfa Romeo. Jean-Pierre tragically died behind the wheel in an accident in 1949.