ŠKODA Sport (1949): The long-distance runner from the other side of the Iron Curtain

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› The ŠKODA Sport took part in the 24-hour race at #lemans in 1950 and is the last ever Czech car to compete there
› The vehicle impressively held its own against the competition before retiring after 13 hours due to a minor technical defect
› The ŠKODA 1101 ‘Tudor’ presented in 1946 was used as the technical basis

Mladá Boleslav, 30 June 2021 – Among all the sports models and special vehicles in ŠKODA’s history, the ŠKODA Sport enjoys a unique position – to this day, it is the last Czech car to have taken part with a Czech crew in the famous 24 Hours of #lemans. 

In addition to the full selection of images accompanying this press release, a comprehensive collection of articles and features on various topics from 120 years of ŠKODA Motorsport can be found on the ŠKODA Storyboard.

To mark the 120th #anniversary of its involvement in motorsport, ŠKODA is this year presenting eighteen special #racing vehicles with which the car manufacturer has celebrated great successes on national and international racetracks.

In the 1950s, motorsport did not seem to have much of a future in Czechoslovakia, motorbikes were the most popular means of transport. However, the first international races were being held at this time. In 1949, for example, the famous 24-hour race in #lemans was staged again for the first time after the Second World War, and a year later the newly founded Formula 1 series was launched.

ŠKODA Sport based on the ŠKODA 1101 ‘Tudor’
Czechoslovakia also wanted to face the international competition with a locally built vehicle so that the durability of series-produced parts could be tested and ŠKODA vehicles could be promoted abroad. The decision was therefore made to build the ŠKODA Sport, a sporty derivative based on the ŠKODA 1101 ‘Tudor’ presented in 1946. The #racing car had a weight-optimised chassis from the ŠKODA 1101. Due to the vehicle’s low height, the powertrain was repositioned, and the central tube was shortened by 400 mm, while the fork of the skeleton frame was lengthened at the front. The designers also adjusted the placement of the steering and the pedals. The car was given a low, 
open body that was made by hand from sheet aluminium.

The fuel tank was placed behind the two seats and the fuel was supplied by an electric pump. The radiator grille had five ribs and the front
headlights were set into the front section. Mostly standard parts from the ‘Tudor’ were used to construct the ŠKODA Sport, including the 12-volt onboard electrical system from the PAL company and Barum tyres. Two blue-painted cars with 1.1-litre engines were built. One of these #racing cars was to compete in the class up to 1500 cm³ and delivered 56 hp with an extra Roots supercharger, while the car intended for the class up to 1100 cm³ had 42 hp without a supercharger.

From Brno to Le Mans
Both cars competed for the first time on 25 September 1949 in the Brno City Prize, the last Czechoslovakian Grand Prix for monopostos. Jaroslav Netušil drove to victory in the class up to 1100 cm³ in the car without a supercharger, while Václav Bobek took second place in the class up to 1500 cm³ in the ŠKODA Sport with a supercharger.

Further information in the press release to download