View source for Ehra-Lessien

{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Infobox German place
|image_coa            = Wappen Ehra-Lessien.png
|coordinates       = {{coord|52|35|49|N|10|47|46|E|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
|image_plan = Ehra-Lessien in GF.svg
|state        = Niedersachsen
|district         = Gifhorn
|Samtgemeinde      = Brome
|elevation              = 63
|area            = 56.08
|postal_code               = 38468
|area_code           = 05377
|licence               = GF
|Gemeindeschlüssel = 03 1 51 008
|divisions        = 2 [[Ortsteil]]e
|website           = [https://www.ehra-lessien.de/ www.ehra-lessien.de]
|mayor     = Jörg Böse
|party            = CDU
}}
'''Ehra-Lessien''' is a municipality in the [[Gifhorn (district)|district of Gifhorn]], in [[Lower Saxony]], [[Germany]]. The Municipality Ehra-Lessien includes the villages of Ehra and Lessien.

==Volkswagen Group test track==
[[File:Air photo Volkswagen test range Ehra-Lessien.jpg|thumb|Volkswagen test range Ehra-Lessien (Air photo)]]
[[Volkswagen Group]] owns a [[proving ground#Automotive|test track]] facility in Ehra-Lessien, some {{convert|18|km|abbr=on}} north of its [[Wolfsburg]] factory. The facility was built during the [[Cold War]]. The location was chosen because, at the time,  it was in a [[no-fly zone]] only {{convert|10|km|abbr=on}} west of the border between [[East Germany]] and [[West Germany]], and thus secret prototypes could be tested out of sight of potential rivals.
 
The track is currently used by all Volkswagen Group subsidiaries and [[marque]]s, such as [[Audi]], [[Lamborghini]], [[Bentley]], [[Bugatti]], [[SEAT]], [[Škoda Auto|Škoda]], and [[Porsche]].

The facility features {{convert|96|km|abbr=on}} of private tarmac, which includes a large variety of road surfaces and curves, used as test tracks to evaluate new and prototype vehicles. More significantly, there is a high speed [[race track|circuit]] with a [[straight (racing)|straight]] approximately {{convert|8.7|km|abbr=on}} long. Although the straight portion of the track is perfectly flat and level for the entire length, when standing at one end of the straight one cannot see the far end due to the curvature of the Earth.<ref name=TopGear>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LO0PgyPWE3o  |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211219/LO0PgyPWE3o |archive-date=2021-12-19 |url-status=live|title=James May takes the Bugatti Veyron to its top speed at Ehra-Lessien|publisher=BBC.co.uk}}{{cbignore}}</ref>  Banked corners at both ends of the circuit allow for a high entry and exit speed to and from the straight, and to increase average speed during the {{convert|20|km|abbr=on}} lap. The straight is especially useful for determining vehicle top speed, and is one of the few places on Earth that the [[Bugatti Veyron]] or the [[McLaren F1]] can reach their top speed.

Notably, the top speeds of the Veyron and the McLaren F1 were recorded along this straight. In Episode 2 of Season 9, aired on 4 February 2007 on [[BBC Two]]'s ''[[Top Gear (current format)|Top Gear]]'', presenter [[James May]] reached {{convert|407.5|km/h|abbr=on}} in a Bugatti Veyron thus breaking the world land speed record for a road legal vehicle.<ref name=TopGear/> On 26 June 2010 May broke his own record in a Bugatti Veyron Super Sport with {{convert|1200|bhp|abbr=on|lk=in}}, reached {{convert|417.9|km/h|abbr=on}} However shortly after this, the record was broken by Bugatti test driver [[Pierre Henri Raphanel]], who recorded a speed of {{convert|431.072|km/h|abbr=on}} (''Top Gear'' Episode 5, Season 15). The facility also appeared on [[National Geographic Channel]]'s ''Man-Made'', in episodes about the Bugatti Veyron and [[Bugatti Chiron|Chiron]].

On 2 August 2019, Bugatti used a specially modified Chiron and broke the record again, reaching {{convert|490.48|km/h|abbr=on}}. The top speed was set by [[Andy Wallace (racing driver)|Andy Wallace]] and verified by the TÜV (Germany's Technical Inspection Association).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a28870777/bugatti-chiron-304-mph-world-record-speed/|title=Bugatti Chiron Passes 300-MPH Barrier with 304-MPH Run, Sets World Record|last=Duff|first=Mike|date=2019-09-02|website=Car and Driver|language=en-US|access-date=2019-09-02}}</ref> The event was recorded with multiple video cameras.<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NkiyAZ63RT8 |title=Bugatti hits 304.77mph in a Chiron |date=2019-09-02 |last=Top Gear |access-date=2024-11-24 |via=YouTube}}</ref> Reportedly, Bugatti had spent the prior twelve months preparing for this new high speed record run.

==Gallery==
<gallery>
Ehra Kirche.JPG|The Lutheran church in Ehra
Lessien Kreuzung.JPG|Lessien with old inn
Ehra - VW Prüfgelände.jpg|Test track entrance
</gallery>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Cities and towns in Gifhorn (district)}}
{{Volkswagen Group brands}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Volkswagen Group]]
[[Category:Road test tracks by manufacturer]]
[[Category:Road test tracks]]
[[Category:Gifhorn (district)]]