Praga R1R
Praga has been in the manufacturing business for over a century now, starting with automobiles and trucks, then expanding in the latter half of the 20th century to a wide-ranging portfolio of modern transportation devices ranging from motorcycles to aircraft to light tanks.
More recently, the Slovakian company, based in Prague, has been turning their attention to the business of going fast, producing a line of go-karts and what I like to call “adult” go-karts—trackday-derived specials like the Praga R1R.
The Praga R1R is the road-legal version of the R1 racecar, which is accurately described as a mini LeMans racercar. It begins with a compact carbon fiber chassis attached to front and rear subframes. At the rear lies the mid-mounted engine and inboard suspension; at the front are inboard pushrod-operated Koni dampers.
The R1R’s cockpit, shaped after a teardrop, is compact but can fit two seats if desired, although reviews recommend opting for the single seat setup (the configurations can be swapped if desired). Because the throttle and brake pedal are bisected by the steering column, left foot braking is mandatory.
The monocoque is a mesh of bespoke honeycomb carbon fiber with carbon/Kevlar reinforced flooring. Impact safety is ensured by side mounted crumple zones and force-absorbing crash boxes as part of the front and rear subframes.
Accelerating the sub-1500 pound R1R is a 2.0-liter, four-cylinder F4R 832 Renaultsport engine, from a Clio 200, using a proprietary turbocharging system from Praga. Power ranges from 330 to 390-hp depending on the specification and is sent through a sequential Hewland gearbox controlled via paddle shifters.
With the full 390-hp and 391-ft lbs. of torque, the R1R should be good for a sub-3 second 0-60 time. As impressive as that is, it’s really the downforce and grip levels created by the Slovakian rocket that you’re paying $200,000 for. The R1 can produce downforce levels up to 1.5x times its weight and generates downforce equal to its mass at just 124mph; it also has enough grip to produces 3G of lateral force when cornering.
Journalists who have gotten behind the wheel the R1R have praised its sweet engine note and ability to create confidence quickly, citing its small dimensions as a key attribute to keeping neat and tidy racing lines. They have also stated that it is a little bit too extreme to be anything but a novelty on the road and is better suited to life at the track.
The limited edition run of 68 units—one for each year since Praga’s first road car in 1947—began in late 2015 at a price of 198,000 euros. Available options include driver aided ABS, traction and launch control and air conditioning and alcantara upholstery.
