The heart of the Bernina Gran Turismo beats most intensely at the starting line, where every vehicle waiting to climb the mountain pass carries a history of triumph and tradition. This year's field brings together Grand Prix icons from the pre-war era, endurance legends and unique hypercars. Each car is a chapter in motorsport history that will be brought back to life on the roads of the Engadin from September 18 to 21, 2025.
Bugatti Type 59 Sports (1934)
Few cars embody the magic of pre-war Grand Prix racing like the Bugatti Type 59 Sports from 1934.
Built as an exclusive Grand Prix car and produced only six times worldwide, this chassis is the first of its kind and is considered the most desirable of all due to its remarkable racing history and exceptional condition. Driven by legends such as René Dreyfus, Robert Benoist and Jean-Pierre Wimille, it later became the property of King Leopold III of Belgium.
The vehicle still bears its racing scars with pride and has never been over-restored. A fact that earned it the title of "Best of Show" in the inaugural "Preservation Class" at Pebble Beach last year. Today, under the care of Fritz Burkard, one of Switzerland's most important car collectors, it has been restored to its 1937 configuration, including the lowered body, the extended wheelbase and the turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine that made it both a technical marvel and a design masterpiece.
The Type 59 is not only the last Grand Prix car that Bugatti ever built, but is also considered the most elegant of all pre-war racing cars. At the Bernina Gran Turismo 2025, it returns to the (mountain) race track, presented by the extraordinary Pearl Collection.
Bugatti Bolide
If the Type 59 embodies Bugatti's golden era, the Bolide, a vehicle designed purely for the racetrack with 1650 PS, stands for the uncompromising future of the brand. Lightweight, extreme and built exclusively for the racetrack, the Bolide pushes the boundaries of performance like no Bugatti before with its quad-turbo W16 engine and aerodynamic design.
Designed for breathtaking cornering speeds and radical agility, it brings the raw energy of modern hypercar design to the winding mountain roads of the Engadine. In an area characterized by cultural heritage, the presence of the Boliden underlines the event's commitment to innovation and the unique dialogue between past and present.
The Bugatti Bolide will be driven by Bugatti CEO Mate Rimac, Le Mans winner and Bugatti test driver Andy Wallace and Pearl Collection owner Fritz Burkard. It is an absolute premiere, as this vehicle built exclusively for the race track has never been driven on the open road before.
A Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing, the racing version of the Mercedes-Benz 190 SL, a Ferrari 250 GT SWB SEFAC Competition from 1961 and three Alfa Romeo racing cars from the Alfa Delta team in Varese will also be at the start.
A Lancia 037 Group B in Safari configuration is also expected.
RM Sotheby's will also be presenting some of the cars from the "Tailored for Speed" collection, which will go under the hammer at the Dolder Grand Hotel in Zurich on October 11, 2025.
Further information on the Bernina Gran Turismo 2025 hill climb can be found on the event website.
