The Bugatti Grand Tour Unravels The Imperial Gem of the Mediterranean, Sardinia

Whether its objective is to win races, explore in unprecedented luxury, or establish speed records, Bugattis are essentially designed to be driven.

It remains such a vital part of the Bugatti brand that each year the Bugatti Grand Tour welcomes owners of the company's most recent super sports vehicles to extraordinary destinations.

This year, their holiday took them to the jewel-like Mediterranean island of Sardinia.

22 Chiron1, Centodieci2, and Veyron models shone under the huge sky of this ancient island as they awaited the start of a three-day journey that would take them past blue waters, through breathtaking mountain passes, and into the wild heart of Sardinia. From a pioneering early Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport with 1,001 PS to the most current Chiron Super Sport3 with 1,600 PS, the cars demonstrate the growth of hyper sports car performance and the evolution of the iconic W16 engine. Each automobile's continuous quest of perfection in every element is consistent throughout.

This exceptional array of vehicles exemplifies Bugatti's great design and performance achievements. Bugatti's once-fastest roadster is commemorated with a Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse World Record Edition. The immaculate painting of the Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse 'Transformer' illustrates the unrivalled workmanship and customisation, while the Chiron Sport4 Edition '110 ans' and the coachbuilt Centodieci pay tribute to a famous history.

These Bugatti legends began their three-day holiday at the luxury Baglioni Resort Sardinia, surrounded by stunning natural scenery, before travelling north in search of nuraghe, Sardinia's ancient megalithic structures. The party stopped to the Nuragic Complex Romanzesu to see holy stone buildings allegedly erected over three thousand years ago. Tenores, or traditional singers, provided the musical background for the visit, emphasising the island's rich cultural past.

Almost the Genna Silana Pass, the roadways gradually bend back towards the coast from this historically important site, providing views of the island from over 1 kilometre above sea level. After travelling 290 kilometres, they arrived at the Su Gologone Experience Hotel, the greatest rural hideaway in all of Sardinia, which is surrounded by terraces of Mediterranean trees and flowers. It was a lovely location for an exceptional traditional Sardinian supper and a night of reflection on the extraordinary driving day they had just had.

The next morning, as the sun rose over the seemingly boundless horizon of Sardinia, 22 W16 engines roared to life in preparation for a cruise from the island's east coast to its west coast. The route headed right into the rocky interior of Sardinia and through Nuraghe Losa, one of the most famous and well-preserved megalithic monuments of the Nuragic civilization. A famous performance of masked 'Boes' and 'Merdules' dancers shed light on the ancient island's cultural rituals.

As the island's tree-lined pathways guided the Bugatti models back to the coast, they arrived in Bosa, a seaside resort with a collection of brightly coloured homes. The voyage continued down the coast, arriving at Hotel Carlos V just in time to see a magnificent sunset.

The last day started with a loop over the northern section of the island en route to the starting point, after more than 530 kilometres had already been traversed. The tour would conclude in the picturesque region of Gallura, after passing via Valle della Luna – Moon Valley – and the Costa Smeralda, named for its spectacular blue-green emerald sea. At the conclusion of the journey, the drivers had manoeuvred almost 5,000 turns on the scenic roads of Sardinia.

In the same way that Ettore Bugatti designed his first automobiles to be driven at the highest level, and in the same way that passionate owners of vintage Bugatti legends continue to tour in their priceless automobiles, Bugatti owners today evoke the original spirit of the company's founder by driving these vehicles as intended.

The president of Bugatti Automobiles, Christophe Piochon, said, "It was a fantastic honour to join our customers and a fleet of our finest automobiles on this incredible Grand Tour. A special note of gratitude to our Bugatti Customer Service team, a group of competent professionals who everyday ensured that these vehicles worked at their top. With the event organisers 2FAST4YOU, we saw personally the passion and enthusiasm for the Bugatti brand that differentiates us. We dubbed it "La Vie en Bleu" because you don't simply purchase a Bugatti, you live in one."