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Seventy-five years ago, Škoda lined up for the first time at the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans with the Škoda Sport racing special. This unique car, meticulously restored to its original condition, has since made several return appearances on the renowned circuit as part of the prestigious Le Mans Classic for historic sports cars. This year, as Škoda celebrates its 130th anniversary, the car was again among the highlights of the event, also due to its performance on the track.

It is 24 June 1950. The second hand of the starting clock ticks past 16:00. Škoda’s racing driver Václav Bobek sprints across the start line, quickly slides behind the wheel of the Škoda Sport, car number 44, and sets off on his first 13.65 km lap at Le Mans. “Every time we climb into this original cockpit on this iconic circuit, we picture the Bobek–Netušil crew taking the start in 1950. It’s a truly special moment for Škoda and for us personally,” say Stanislav Kafka and Michal Velebný, the pair responsible for bringing this unique car back to Le Mans in recent years.

Le Mans 1950: the first and only appearance
Škoda’s entry in the 1950 Le Mans endurance race was a rare sight in its day. Europe had already been divided by the Iron Curtain, making the car from Mladá Boleslav a curiosity on the starting grid of the world’s toughest endurance race. The two-seater special, with its hand-built aluminium bodywork, was based on modified components from the 1946 Škoda 1101 ‘Tudor’ production model and made use of many standard parts. By dawn, the Škoda Sport held second place in its class for cars up to 1,100 cm³ and fifth overall on the performance index. After 13 hours – having averaged 126 km/h – a broken piston pin circlip dashed any hope of a surprise result. As the race regulations prevented this small, technical fault, from being repaired on site, lap 121 proved to be Škoda’s last at Le Mans.

Targeted technical adjustments for optimal performance on the track
The Škoda Sport features two additional headlights for better illumination during the night and special openings in the radiator grille optimized for the cooling of the drum brakes on the front wheels. An extended wheelbase of 2,150 mm ensures improved driving stability. The vehicle weighed in at 700 kg Including tools and spare parts. The water-cooled four-cylinder engine with a displacement of 1,089 cm³ delivered an output of 50 hp (37 kW) at 5,200 rpm for a top speed of 140 km/h. The electrics were delivered by the Czech manufacturer PAL 12 V. The special fuel mix consisted of petrol, ethanol and acetone. The consumption of 12 litres per 100 km was low for its time compared to the competitors. Therefore, the Škoda crew had to refuel less often.

Back where history was made
Thanks to its start at Le Mans and its strong performance on the prestigious track 75 years ago, the original Škoda Sport as well as its drivers Václav Bobek and Jaroslav Netušil have a permanent place among racing legends. The vehicle now regularly competes in the prestigious Le Mans Classic. The 1950 Le Mans special – one of only two ever built – was long thought lost but was eventually rediscovered and brought back to life through a careful restoration that preserved as many original components as possible. The car’s aluminium body still bears the scars of battles fought on the race track more than seven decades ago. After a six-year restoration, the car made its return to the circuit in 2022. Last weekend, from 3 to 6 July 2025, it once again lined up on the starting grid, commemorating both the endurance racing tradition and this year’s 130th anniversary of the Škoda brand. The crew Michal Velebný/Stanislav Kafka in Škoda’s racing special finished in 36th place on the performance index.

Article source: www.skoda-storyboard.com

The 112^th Tour de France, the world’s most famous stage race, gets underway tomorrow, and Škoda Auto is once again joining as the main partner – its 22^nd year in this role. The carmaker is providing up to 225 support vehicles for the organisers, all of which are either fully electric or plug-in hybrid models. Among them will be two ‘Red Cars’ – the new Škoda Enyaq and Superb iV – for Race Director Christian Prudhomme. Škoda is also the longstanding sponsor of the green jersey for the leader of the points classification and supplies the trophies for the overall winner, points leader, mountain classification leader, and best young rider. This year’s race will see a peloton of 184 cyclists in 23 teams compete over 21 stages, covering a total of 3,339 km, with the finish on Paris’s Champs-Élysées.

“Škoda Auto is proud to mark 22 years as the main partner of the Tour de France. As we celebrate our 130th anniversary of Škoda Auto, our commitment to cycling is stronger than ever. We are looking forward to being part of one of the most watched sporting events on the planet, providing a modern fleet of electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles to support this exciting race. Škoda is joining millions of fans along the route and an incredible three billion TV viewers to witness the riders’ outstanding performances. And we are excited to connect with these fans through our WeLoveCycling platform and share the thrill of the race together.”

Martin Jahn, Škoda Auto Board Member for Sales and Marketing

Tour de France returns to the Champs-Élysées
The 112th Tour de France will take place from 5 to 27 July. The Grand Départ sets off from Lille in the north and will culminate with the traditional finish on the Champs-Élysées in Paris. A total of 184 riders in 23 teams will tackle 21 stages and 3,339 km with a total elevation gain of 52,500 metres, crossing France’s Massif Central, Pyrenees, the Alps including the legendary Mont Ventoux climb, and Jura Mountains. The highest point on the route will be the Col de la Loze (2,304 m above sea level).

Škoda Auto has taken another significant step toward future-proofing its main plant in Mladá Boleslav by laying the foundation stone for an advanced paint shop. Scheduled to open in 2029, the facility will have a daily capacity of up to 1,600 bodies. Combined with existing facilities, the total daily painting capacity at the Mladá Boleslav plant will reach 2,600 bodies. The state-of-the-art facility will utilise automation, robotics, and advanced technologies to enhance the quality of each protective coating applied. Capable of painting vehicles built on both internal combustion (ICE) and electric platforms, the facility will significantly enhance operational efficiency and flexibility. It will also enable two-tone paint applications and matte finishes. Crucially, the new paint shop aligns with Škoda Auto’s aim to achieve carbon-neutral production at its Czech plants by 2030. Alongside a reduction in volatile organic compounds (VOCs), CO₂ emissions from painting processes will be cut by 28%.

“The construction of a new paint shop at our main plant in Mladá Boleslav underscores our commitment to both the Czech Republic, the home of Škoda Auto, and the company’s ongoing development. The facility’s extensive use of cutting-edge technologies, such as robotic systems for PVC-based sealant application and automated systems for plugging body openings, will significantly boost efficiency. It will also set new environmental standards as one of the Volkswagen Group’s most advanced paint shops, substantially reducing VOC and CO₂ emissions by 28%.”

Andreas Dick, Škoda Auto Board Member for Production and Logistics

Optimal conditions for advanced body treatment at Škoda’s main plant
The Mladá Boleslav site currently has two paint shops, with the original facility operating since 1996. This older facility will be fully replaced by the new paint shop, which offers additional capabilities such as contrasting roof colours and matte finishes. The second paint shop began operations in 2019. Together with the new facility, Škoda Auto’s main plant will provide optimal conditions for advanced body surface treatments.

Highlighting the scale of the project, the new building will measure 301 metres in length, 131 metres in width, and 32.5 metres in height, comparable to a seven-storey structure. The total floor area will span 118,000 square metres – equivalent to over 16 football fields – and the conveyor system will extend to 15 kilometres. The facility will be built on the current site of a finished-vehicle car park, adjacent to the recently opened Laurin & Klement bridge.