Last time out

The Bugatti’s have left their mark in the history of motor racing before the war, in Grand Prix as well as in the Le Mans 24 Hours, but after the death of Ettore (the founding father), the come-back of Bugatti at the 1956 French Grand Prix at Reims was a failure.

The Formula 1 type 251, imagined by Roland Bugatti and by the famous engineer Gioacchino Colombo, was characterised by it’s 8 cylinder engine mounted in central transverse position behind the driver (middle picture), a very original concept.

Despite the commendable efforts of its driver Maurice Trintignant (picture here-under), it qualified on the last row of the grid (18 seconds behind the pole position!), had to retire in the race, and never reappeared…