A TRULY classic racing car will be roaring into life at the Bournemouth Wheels Festival this month.

The 1924 Lyons Grand Prix Type 35 Bugatti harks back to the embryonic years of motorsport and is sure to impress the crowds as it takes to the demonstration course at the event between May 24 and 26.

Organisers Bournemouth Tourism have teamed up with The National Motor Museum at Beaulieu in the New Forest to bring this rare piece of motoring history to the inaugural Wheels Festival.

The Type 35 Bugatti was the groundbreaking racing car of its era, achieving countless victories between 1924 and 1930 to make it one of the most successful eight-cylinder in-line engine racing cars of all time.

Jon Weaver, Bournemouth Wheels Festival director, said: “To have such an iconic vehicle at the first Wheels Festival is an amazing coup and I’m sure this racing car alone will be a big draw for festival-goers.

“It is brilliant to have The National Motor Museum, Beaulieu, supporting the event and we can’t wait to see the Type 35 Bugatti join other pre-war cars, F1 cars, Le Mans cars, supercars and Moto GP bikes on the exciting demonstration straight.”

The museum is also bringing two more pre-war cars – a 1935 Auburn 851 and a 1939 Rolls-Royce Alpine Eagle – to the show, which will be on display near Boscombe beach. It will also be running a people’s choice competition, where festival-goers can choose their favourite vintage or pre-war car, with the winning owner getting to drive the demo straight.

Nik Wyness, from Beaulieu, said: “Being home to one of the finest collections of historic automobiles in the world, it is appropriate for Beaulieu to support the inaugural Wheels Festival and the people’s choice award.”

  • The souvenir programme costs £7 and contains information about all the attractions, plus discounts on grandstand seating and Monster Truck rides. Pre-order online at bournemouthwheels.co.uk