Škoda Sport (1949)

Designed for racing, the Škoda Sport was produced in 1949, with only two units ever made. Featuring a four-cylinder engine with a displacement of 1089 cc, it generated 60 horsepower, paired with a four-speed gearbox, allowing it to reach speeds of up to 160 km/h. One car was modified for the 1950 Le Mans race, the Škoda Sport participated in the 24-hour race at Le Mans.

Škoda Sport at Le Mans in 1950

During the 1950 Le Mans race, the Škoda team held its own in second place in its class and fifth place overall as dawn approached. Despite the competition from French race car specialist Gordini, which entered six cars, the Škoda Sport was performing impressively. The car, built with simplicity and ingenuity, was quite similar to production models. It featured a shortened central-tube chassis frame and axles, with modified brakes and gearbox for high-speed racing. The aluminium bodywork reduced the vehicle's weight to 590 kg, while the tweaked engine with a Solex carburettor in combination with a special methyl alcohol fuel mixture provided a power output of 50 hp for a top speed of 140 km/h.

Unexpected setback and missed opportunities at Le Mans

Everything was going well until the break of dawn when a minor technical issue—a broken piston pin circlip—caused the engine to break down. This vital part, costing only pennies, led to the team's retirement after 13 hours. The Škoda Sport's fuel efficiency allowed longer driving shifts, but the mechanical failure ended their race prematurely. In 1950, two more Škoda Supersport "cigar bodywork" racing cars were built. The original car, which took part in the 1950 24 Hours of Le Mans race, is currently part of a private collection, has undergone a very sensitive renovation, and regularly participates in Le Mans Classic races.

Vítězslav Kodym
Head of Product Communications
+420 604 292 131
vitezslav.kodym@skoda-auto.cz

Anežka Boudná
Product Communications
+420 734 298 801
anezka.boudna@skoda-auto.cz