Gabriel Bortoleto Shares Insights on Testing Audi's Powerful Nuvolari
Gabriel Bortoleto recently tested the Audi Nuvolari, the brand's most powerful road car to date, at the Nardò circuit. He praised its performance and handling, highlighting its impressive balance and precision.
Gabriel Bortoleto recently took a break from the usual F1 grind to test something a bit different — Audi's latest supercar, the Nuvolari. Named in tribute to racing legend Tazio Nuvolari, this 987bhp beast is Audi's most powerful road car ever, and both Bortoleto and Nico Hulkenberg have been involved in its development.
Bortoleto's latest outing with the Nuvolari took place at the Nardò circuit in northern Italy. Audi is fine-tuning the car before its limited release, with only 499 units planned for production. Earlier in the year, both Bortoleto and Hulkenberg had already given the car a spin around Monaco, where Audi showcased a special yellow livery to honor Nuvolari.
Priced at £500,000 ($700,000), the Nuvolari has been making waves online. It's not just about looks; the car goes from 0-62mph in a mere 2.6 seconds and can hit a top speed of 217mph, giving some F1 cars a run for their money.
On the track at Nardò, Bortoleto was impressed by the car's capabilities. "Running the Audi Nuvolari at Nardò and working closely with the development team on the setup was a really great experience," he said. "What stands out immediately is how clean and predictable the car feels on turn-in. There’s basically no understeer, which is impressive given the level of performance."
He went on to praise the car's balance and precision, noting how its systems, especially aerodynamics and torque distribution, worked seamlessly together. "Overall, it’s a very complete package and a car that responds exactly the way you expect as a driver," Bortoleto added.
Nico Hulkenberg also shared his thoughts on the Nuvolari, emphasizing the importance of the car's overall package. "The Nuvolari really has a lot to offer," he remarked. "It’s exciting to see just how much potential this car has, and the power of the high-performance hybrid powertrain – with over 1,000 PS – is truly impressive."
Meanwhile, Audi recently stayed at the Hungaroring post-Hungarian Grand Prix to conduct Pirelli tyre testing for the 2027 season, alongside Alpine. Clearly, they're not resting on their laurels as they continue to push boundaries both on the track and the road.