The Bugatti EB110 Spills Its Guts Out On The Strip In Drag Race Against Ferrari F40

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It’s a ’90s supercar spectacular on CarWow this week, as the Ferrari F40 defends its position as one of the segment’s top predators against the Bugatti EB110, and the underdog American, the first-generation Dodge Viper.

To be honest, the video is a bit of a competition to see who has the guts to be the most aggressive with their car, but as racers are so fond of saying: To finish first, first you must finish.

First up, the Ferrari goes head-to-head with the Bugatti. More of a fair fight, in terms of values, both cost hundreds of thousands when they first hit the market, and both are worth millions today, thanks to their performance, breeding, and history.

Read: Mercedes 500E Proves That Automatics Were Faster Than Manuals, Even In The ’90s

The F40 is powered by a 2.9-liter twin-turbo V8 that made 477 hp (356 kW/484 PS) in U.S. spec, all of which is funneled to the rear wheels. Meanwhile, the EB110 gets more cylinders, more turbos, and more power. Its 3.5-liter, quad-turbo V12 sends 553 hp (412 kW/560 PS) to all four wheels.

That sounds like it should amount to an easy win for the Bugatti. However, the Ferrari’s less complicated drivetrain means that it weighs just 2,976 lbs (1,350 kg), or 750 lbs (340 kg) less than its competitor.

That makes for an interesting race. Whether it’s the EB110’s all-wheel-drive system, its extra power, or its driver’s willingness to launch it hard, the Bugatti gets off to an early lead. Such is the size of its advantage, that host Mat Watson seems to believe he has won halfway down the quarter-mile.

However, once the Ferrari gets into the boost, and it can stretch its legs, it reels the Bugatti in, overtaking it with stunning speed. At the line, it’s ahead by just a nose, in one of the most surprising come-from-behind drag races I’ve ever seen.

What a bummer

Unfortunately, the drivers don’t get a chance to validate this unexpected outcome with a rematch because the front CV joint on the EB110 emits a displeasing sound as it returns to the starting point of the strip.

Fortunately, the team happened to have another car on-hand, a pre-production Dodge Viper. Its V10 makes just 400 hp (298 kW/405 PS), but it also generates a ton of torque, and has a more reasonable $50,000 market value, making it much less intimidating to drive.

That gives it a huge advantage in the standing quarter-mile, and wins easily. However, in a gentler roll race, the F40 proves that it’s no slouch, and takes victory by a nose. It all proves that, if you’re willing to hammer on it, the F40 earns its reputation as one of the ’90s supercar greats. But there are cheaper alternatives out there that can give you similar thrills.