The Bugatti Trust

Bugatti Trust

Welcome to the Bugatti Trust

Celebrating Bugatti History

A Charitable Trust whose objectives are to preserve and make available for study the works of Ettore Bugatti.

By joining the Bugatti Trust you help:

  • Preserve the heritage of the original Bugatti marque and the technical and historic archives of the factory.
  • Provide an accessible working archive to the Bugatti community and enthusiasts around the world. Bookings for group visits and talks are available.
  • Preserve the heritage of the artists in the Bugatti family including Rembrandt, Carlo and Lydia.
  • Support an active educational STEM outreach programme working with schools, colleges and universities throughout the UK as well as inspire the next generation of engineers and designers. Initiatives include Formula Student, STEM Racing, Formula SAE, VEX Robotics, DofE, drawing classes and bespoke collaborative projects.

 

Benoist trophy

Founded over 35 years ago, the Bugatti Trust is a UK registered charity, home to 27,000 technical drawings, over 10,000 historic photographs and thousands of historic documents.  Above, a new display created around a Benoist trophy recently purchased for our permanent collection.

Bugatti Trust Awards

 

Ettore Bugatti

IMPORTANT INFORMATION PRIOR TO VISITING

The Bugatti Trust
Prescott Hill
Gotherington
Cheltenham
Gloucestershire GL52 9RD

The Bugatti Trust is normally open Monday to Friday between 10 am and 4 pm except on Tuesday when we open at 10.30 due to staff training.

Please telephone 01242 677 201 before visiting.
The last admission to the museum is at 3.30pm.

Please note the Bugatti Trust will be closed on the following dates:

Monday 12th October
Monday 19th October

Prescott Engineering & Innovation Festival

Prescott Engineering & Innovation Festival 2026 Delivers Inspiring Weekend of Engineering, Competition and Innovation

The 2026 Prescott Engineering & Innovation Festival proved to be a resounding success, bringing together leading engineers, innovators, motorsport enthusiasts, exhibitors, competitors and students for a packed weekend celebrating engineering achievement and automotive heritage.

Organised jointly by the Bugatti Owners’ Club http://www.prescotthillclimb.co.uk and the Bugatti Trust Museum & Study Centre http://www.bugatti-trust.co.uk, the festival showcased a diverse exhibitor line-up spanning motorsport, advanced manufacturing, technology, education, heritage engineering and future mobility. Exhibitors engaged visitors of all ages, providing hands-on demonstrations and valuable insights into careers and opportunities across the engineering sector.

A particular highlight of the weekend was the festival’s educational programme. Students attending the event not only had the opportunity to interact with engineers and industry professionals but were also treated to passenger rides in Bugatti cars on Prescott’s famous hill, creating memorable experiences that brought automotive engineering to life.

Thank you to all the Bugattistes who gave young learners a lift up the historic hill climb!
Photograph Copyright : Tom Gay

The festival’s guest speaker programme at The Bugatti Trust also proved exceptionally popular, with every talk selling out in advance. Visitors heard from Pikes Peak competitor Damien Bradley, who shared the engineering challenges behind one of the world’s most demanding motorsport events; renowned pre-war Bugatti engineering expert Tim Dutton; and Jim Budd with Rebecca Gunn from Moog Engineering, who offered fascinating insights into modern engineering innovation. The capacity audiences reflected the growing appetite for engineering-focused content and technical discussion within the Prescott community.

Running alongside the festival was two days of competitive hill climb action featuring rounds of the FASSI Classic Speed Championship, New Barn Speed Championship and numerous club championships, providing visitors with a unique opportunity to watch historic, classic and modern machinery compete on the renowned Prescott Hill Climb course.

Saturday Competition Highlights

Saturday’s action saw competitors battling for class honours across a wide variety of machinery.

The fastest time of the day was recorded by Mike Luck in his Dart 1800, who stopped the clocks at an impressive 43.18 seconds, demonstrating the pace of modern competition machinery.

Among the Bugatti Owners’ Club classes:

Johnny Hulme claimed victory in BOC Class 1 with his Renault 5 GT Turbo Coupe.

Robert Ian Blackstock won BOC Class 2 Sports Cars in his MG TF160.

Mike Hawke took honours in BOC Class 3 Race Cars aboard his historic Formula 750 Phoenix.

In championship action:

Peter House won the AMOC Speed Championship class in his Aston Martin Vantage GT4.

Andrew Webber secured victory in the National Historic Speed Championship class with his Lotus Europa 47D.

Matt Waltham led the Triumph Register contingent to victory in his Triumph TR5. Aaron Bland topped a highly competitive New Barn Speed Championship class in his Mini Cooper S.

The FASSI Classic Speed Championship competitors also produced some excellent performances:

Class 1 was won by Ben Thorne in an Austin Mini Clubman. Class 2 honours went to Tim Lakin in his MGB GT.

In the prestigious Williams Monaco Trophy for Bugattis, Rupert Marks took victory in his Bugatti Type 13 Brescia.

Sunday Competition Highlights

Sunday maintained the momentum with another full day of competition across the hill.

In the Bugatti Williams Monaco Trophy class, Paula Larisa Dragusanu claimed victory in her Bugatti Type 51, ahead of Yushan Ng in a Bugatti Type 35 GP and Winston Teague in a Bugatti Type 35.

Other Sunday class winners included:

Robert Ian Blackstock (BOC Standard Cars) in an MG TF160. Owen Pritchard (BOC Road Cars) in a Mini Cooper S (R53). Kevin O’Keeffe (BOC Modified Cars) in a Volvo Amazon.

Ramunas Cepulis (BOC Sports Libre Cars) in a Honda NSX.

Hamish Cameron Eveleigh (BOC Racing Cars) in a Cooper MK8.

On outright pace, Mike Luck again demonstrated exceptional speed, taking class honours in Racing Cars with a best run of 35.76 seconds.

A Festival to Inspire the Next Generation

With sold-out technical talks, an extensive exhibitor showcase, student engagement initiatives, memorable Bugatti passenger rides and thrilling competition on the hill, the 2026 Prescott Engineering & Innovation Festival successfully delivered on its aim of inspiring current and future generations of engineers.

The combination of motorsport, engineering excellence, heritage and education once again demonstrated why Prescott remains one of the UK’s most distinctive venues for celebrating both engineering innovation and automotive culture. The event’s success further strengthens its position as a key fixture in the engineering and motorsport calendar, with visitors, exhibitors and competitors already looking forward to returning in 2027.

Looking Ahead to 2027

Following the success of this year’s event, the Bugatti Owners’ Club and the Bugatti Trust Museum & Study Centre are delighted to announce that the Prescott Engineering & Innovation Festival will return on 2nd and 3rd October 2027. Building on the momentum generated by this year’s sold-out talks, extensive exhibitor showcase, thrilling hill climb action and inspiring educational activities, plans are already underway to make next year’s festival even bigger and better. Visitors, exhibitors, competitors and engineering enthusiasts are encouraged to save the date and join Prescott once again for a unique celebration of engineering, innovation, motorsport and automotive heritage.

Job Vacancy September 1st, 2026

THE BUGATTI TRUST Museum & Study Centre
Bugatti Molsheim Limited — Registered Charity No. 298099

We are Hiring
Learning, Communications and Exhibitions Officer
Full-time Prescott Hill, Gotherington, Gloucestershire • Reports to the Chairman of Trustees

The Bugatti Trust is looking for a versatile, all-round individual to lead the day-to-day running of our learning, communications and exhibition activities at our museum and study centre at Prescott — one of the most varied and rewarding roles in the UK heritage sector. You will combine exhibition-making, public speaking, marketing and PR, education, and events, all in service of one of motoring history’s most celebrated marques.

About Us
The Bugatti Trust (Bugatti Molsheim Limited, registered charity No. 298099) is an independent charitable museum, archive and study centre dedicated to the life and work of Ettore Bugatti and the marque he founded. Our archive holds over 27,000 original factory technical drawings, more than 10,000 photographs and thousands of supporting documents — a resource used by owners, restorers, researchers, and enthusiasts worldwide.

The Bugatti Trust is an equal opportunities employer that values diversity and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified people regardless of their ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, religious practice, or any other perceived differences. We are an armed forces friendly employer.

The Role
As learning, communications and exhibitions officer, you will be part of the operational heart of the Trust, responsible for its exhibitions, public programme and external profile. The role is delivered by a small, committed team supported by volunteers, so you’ll need to be equally comfortable curating a headline loan exhibition, giving a talk to visiting schoolchildren, briefing the press, or greeting the public on an open day at all times liaising with the whole team as well as the Chairman and other Trustees.

What You Will Be Doing
• Leading our nationally recognised STEM and schools/university outreach programme, including talks, workshops and competition sponsorship.
• Delivering public talks, lectures and media appearances to audiences ranging from schoolchildren to specialist collectors.
• Building and maintaining relationships with private collectors, vehicle owners and the wider Bugatti and motoring community.
• As necessary, representing the Trust at major trade shows, including the NEC Classic Motor Show, and at partner prize-giving and awards events.
• Negotiating, agreeing and managing vehicle and artefact loan agreements with private and institutional lenders.
• Undertaking original research using the Trust’s archive to support exhibitions, publications and enquiries.
• Owning the Trust’s marketing, PR, communications, website and social media.
• Planning and delivering the Trust’s full annual exhibition programme, from concept to installation.
• Liaising with partner marque clubs, archives, museums, insurers and international collections.
• Supporting the Trust’s governance, including attendance at trustees’ board meetings with regular written reports.

What We Are Looking For
• Experience in curation of a museum collection which enhances the visitor experience.
• Demonstrable public speaking and presentation skills, confident addressing audiences from schoolchildren to specialist collectors.
• Capability to deliver public relations, press liaison and/or marketing communications.
• Confidence liaising with private collectors, vehicle owners and institutional lenders to negotiate loan agreements.
• Strong written communication skills, including newsletter and digital content authorship.
• A willingness to acquire a solid working knowledge of the Bugatti marque, the Bugatti family and the history of The Bugatti Trust.
• A full, valid UK driving licence is essential.
• A willingness to be contracted each year to work some evenings and up to 12 weekend days, often in the summer, to support events, exhibition openings and trade shows.
• The Trust is often open to visitors, and you will be expected to show the skills necessary, with others, to meet and greet visitors as and when required.
• There is a small retail area, and you will be required to evidence your ability to master basic administrative skills.
• A person with a strong team ethos and the ability to see through to the end lengthy and complex projects.
• Fluency in French and/or German, a museum studies qualification, and prior experience in the classic/historic motoring sector are all desirable but not essential.

To Apply
Please email a brief covering letter together with a current CV to recruitment@bugatti-trust.co.uk, to be received no later than Wednesday 30th September 2026. Salary will be dependent upon experience.

Cotswold School’s VEX Ro-botics Club

Above: We continue our support of the Cotswold School’s VEX Robotics Club sponsoring their teams and helping judge during the competition days they organise welcoming teams from all over the UK. For 2026 The Trust is increasing the amount of STEM Racing teams sponsored and welcomed the JCB Academy’s STEM Racing club in January.


UWE Racing, FS Team from Bristol, one of the 7 teams we sponsor for 2026 which include TBRe from Bath, Phoenix Racing from Coventry, Cardiff Racing, UoL Racing from Leicester, GCU Racing from Glasgow and London’s UCL Racing. We are also excited to start an Automotive and Transport Design challenge with Coventry’s MA course.

Slipstream STEM Racing TeamSlipstream STEM Racing Team from the Crypt School who performed brilliantly at the national finals this year.

Coventry University Au-
tomotive and Transport Design studentsCoventry University Automotive and Transport Design students during a visit to the Trust to kick off their post-war Bugatti design challenge
for 2026.

Prescott Engineering & Innovation Festival

Prescott Engineering & Innovation Festival Launched as New Joint Venture Between the Bugatti Owners’ Club and The Bugatti Trust

A unique celebration of motorsport engineering, innovation and education comes to Prescott, Gloucestershire, UK, on Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th October 2026.

Friday 14th August 2026, The Bugatti Owners’ Club (BOC) and The Bugatti Trust Museum and Study Centre are delighted to announce the launch of the Prescott Engineering & Innovation Festival, on Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th October 2026. This new co-promoted event will combine the excitement of competitive hill climbing with a vibrant showcase of engineering excellence, technological innovation and educational engagement.

Held alongside Prescott’s traditional October hill climb meeting which will feature over 150 competition cars each day, ranging from top flight single seater racing cars to road-going daily commuters, the new festival will transform Prescott Hill Climb into a dynamic engineering showcase, offering visitors the opportunity not only to experience the thrill of motorsport but also to discover the technology, creativity and expertise that drive performance on and off the track.

Designed as a celebration of ingenuity, speed and innovation, the Prescott Engineering & Innovation Festival will bring together engineers, restorers, manufacturers, students, educators and motorsport enthusiasts for a day of competition, learning and inspiration. An essential element of this inaugural edition of the Festival will of course be Bugatti engineering.

A key feature of the event is its collaborative approach, marking a significant milestone in the partnership between the Bugatti Owners’ Club and The Bugatti Trust. The Festival has been developed as a long-term joint venture, with both organisations working together to create a distinctive event that showcases the heritage, present and future of engineering and motorsport.

Visitors can look forward to a wide range of attractions beyond the hill climb action, including:

  • Free-to-attend engineering and innovation talks hosted at The Bugatti Trust

  • An enhanced Formula Student presence showcasing the next generation of engineering talent

  • A dedicated Bugatti Restorers and Engineers Zone

  • Educational and careers-focused displays from universities, colleges and industry organisations

  • Participation from engineering and automotive heritage bodies

  • An exciting Innovation Row, featuring historic and contemporary vehicles that have redefined engineering boundaries

The Festival aims to showcase the remarkable engineering achievements behind Bugatti, hill climbing and the wider motorsport industry while creating opportunities for learning, inspiration and career exploration for visitors of all ages.

The Bugatti Owners’ Club and The Bugatti Trust share a vision of establishing the Prescott Engineering & Innovation Festival as a fixture in both the motorsport and educational calendars. Organisers intend for the event to grow year on year, developing into a flagship showcase that celebrates engineering excellence and heritage while strengthening Prescott’s reputation as one of the UK’s most distinctive and inspirational motorsport venues.

Colin Bullock, Bugatti Owners’ Club Chairman and Allan Rippon, Bugatti Trust Museum and Study Centre Chairman commented: “The Prescott Engineering & Innovation Festival represents an exciting new chapter for both organisations. By bringing together the sporting spectacle of hill climbing with the educational and inspirational opportunities offered by engineering innovation, we are creating an event that celebrates not only what motorsport achieves on the track but also the ingenuity and expertise behind it. This partnership reflects our shared commitment to preserving engineering heritage while inspiring future generations of engineers and innovators.”

Further details, programme announcements and exhibitor information will be released in the coming months

For further information please contact

Bugatti Owners’ Club

Gemma Price 

General Manager 

gemma@bugatti.co.uk

01242 673136 

The Bugatti Trust Museum and Study Centre

Angela Hucke

Curator & Education

angela@bugatti-trust.co.uk

01242 677201

Current Exhibition

From Race to Road: The Story of the Bugatti Type 30

A new exhibition highlighting the pivotal role of the Bugatti Type 30 in the evolution of Bugatti road and racing cars, the factory, and engineering innovation

Bugatti Type 30

Early Bugatti Type 30 outside the Paris Showroom 116 Avenue de Champs Elysées. Photo Courtesy The Bugatti Trust Archive.

The Bugatti Trust Museum and Study Centre, Gloucestershire, is delighted to announce a new exhibition opening in June, dedicated to exploring the importance of the Bugatti Type 30 in the development of the Bugatti marque and factory.

As Bugatti’s first production eight-cylinder model, introduced in 1922, the Type 30 marked a step change in performance, engineering sophistication and design, representing a vital link between the early four-cylinder models and the later Grand Prix legends such as the Type 35. Through carefully selected archive material including historic documents and photographs, original factory film footage and technical drawings from the Trust’s extensive collection, the exhibition will show how the Type 30’s advanced inline eight-engine, four-wheel braking and the modified chassis design helped shape Bugatti’s approach to both road and competition cars.

Visitors will discover how the Type 30 underpinned later developments at the

Molsheim factory and how its engineering solutions influenced some of the most successful racing Bugattis of the 1920s.

The Bugatti Trust’s established STEM outreach work which already includes initiatives such as Formula Student, STEM Racing and VEX Robotics as well as collaborative design challenges, will be complemented by new learning resources developed specifically around the Type 30 exhibition.

The Bugatti Trust Leaflet

Download our leaflet in other languages below:

 

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