Bugatti Veyron put to the ultimate test by racing a fighter jet over 2-mile stretch

The Bugatti Veyron was once put to the ultimate performance test.

But it wasn’t facing off against another supercar.

In fact, it didn’t even challenge a ground-based vehicle at all.

Instead, it raced a fighter jet – over a 2-mile stretch.

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Bugatti Veyron seeks a new type of challenge

There came a point in the life of the Bugatti Veyron where it was the dominant force on the roads.

The legendary supercar had pretty much vanquished everything in its path.

But what do you do when nothing on four wheels can touch you?

Well, Top Gear had that exact thought – and they decided to go big.

Back during series 10, Richard Hammond got behind the wheel of the Veyron.

Hammond explained that, for this challenge, he was well and truly nervous.

Because he was facing off against the Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jet.

And – at the risk of stating the obvious – it has numbers that totally flatten the Bugatti.

For context, each of the Typhoon’s twin engines produce 20,000lbs of thrust.

It adds up to a top speed of more than 1,500mph.

At this point, Hammond’s nerves were more than understandable.

But the Bugatti Veyron was very much the car world’s best shot.

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Veyron vs fighter jet – who wins?

Top Gear‘s plan was for a horizontal vs vertical drag race across two miles.

The Veyron would race across the runway, hit the mile marker, and then race back, while the plane would do exactly the same – but vertically.

But the Bugatti Veyron might have one key advantage, though – its brakes.

Hammond had to brake as late as possible before starting the return mile.

But the downforce generated, coupled with the brakes, should have helped him.

Which meant that this promised to be one of the greatest drag races ever.

The Veyron lined up alongside the Euro Typhoon, and then the flag dropped – starting the ultimate race.

Both fighter jet and supercar were neck-and-neck off the line.

Somehow, the Veyron then actually started building a lead.

But then the Typhoon – literally – shot off into the sky and began climbing.

Hammond hit the mile marker and brakes – but the Typhoon was inverted and turning around too.

The presenter sprinted for home as the Typhoon had him in its sights.

“I was doing 196mph, but was it enough?” Hammond reflected.

The fighter jet was now seriously bearing down on the Bugatti.

“I can’t see the jet!” he yelled.

But then, the crack and roar of the fighter jet could be heard overhead.

And it shot across the finish line – just a few seconds before the Bugatti Veyron.

Although the supercar technically lost, it did push a literal fighter jet to the limit.

In many ways, neither machine left this ultimate race losing face.