Word on the street is that it wasn’t a done deal. As Audi headed into Grand Prix de Monaco weekend and planned a top secret reveal of the new Nuvolari sports car, powers-that-be at the brand wanted to follow that showing up with a lap of the track on race day. Apparently, Mercedes-Benz had some say in the matter given their sponsorship of the time slot Audi had eyed for its run.
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We don’t know the outcome of how it played out. What we do know is that Audi did get to run its Nuvolari on the streets of Monaco and in front of the Grand Prix crowd. Given the brand will only be building 499 units (500 if you count the 000 of 499 etched on the reveal car), and that it’ll price in at a TBD price that’s likely even higher than the Lamborghini Temerario with which it shares architecture, it’s a safe bet that having it run in front of the super wealthy Grand Prix de Monaco crowd was definitely a win.
Audi has since dropped some social media posts, as have other fans who happened to catch the run. In it, we can see Audi Revolut F1 drivers Nico Hülkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto driving it – one driving, then swapping spaces, then the other taking a spin.
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We’re not entirely sure how much exposure they’ve had to the Nuvolari but we do know it’s not their first time. Nico drove the car out of a giant clam-shell piece of shrubbery at the reveal up the French coast on Thursday night while Gabi is known to have bene involved in the car’s chassis tuning with tests at Nardo.
The brand put out specific quotes from the two at the time of the car’s launch, worth sharing here if you’re following along closely regarding their involvement or reactions.
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Nico Hülkenberg
“The Audi Nuvolari1 looks really cool and unique. For me, what truly counts is the overall package — that is, how the car feels, how precisely it responds, and how well performance and drivability complement each other. The Nuvolari1 really has a lot to offer.”
“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.”
Gabriel Bortoleto
“Running the Audi Nuvolari at Nardò and working closely with the development team on the setup was a really great experience. 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. The balance stays very neutral and precise, giving you the confidence to carry speed through the corners. You can clearly feel how the different systems — especially the aerodynamics and torque distribution — work together as one. Overall, it’s a very complete package and a car that responds exactly the way you expect as a driver.”