The Praga Bohema set a new Top Gear Test Track record for pure combustion cars with a 1:09.8 lap time, nearly matching the hybrid Aston Martin ValkyrieWeighing under 2,300 pounds with 700 horsepower from a modified Nissan GT-R V6, it produces 1,984 pounds of downforce at 155 mphFormer Stig Ben Collins drove the production car on road tires without modifications, with only 89 examples planned for global production Right, here's something that should make every established supercar manufacturer pause their champagne celebrations and consider whether they've been doing this whole thing wrong: a company you've probably never heard of, from a country not exactly famous for automotive excellence, has just built a car that's faster around the Top Gear Test Track than virtually everything else with an internal combustion engine. The Praga Bohema - yes, that's a real name for a real car - has lapped the circuit in 1 minute and 9.8 seconds, which is just one-tenth of a second slower than the Aston Martin Valkyrie despite having 440 fewer horsepower. This isn't some stripped-out track special or prototype that exists purely for bragging rights. This is a production car that customers can actually buy, assuming they can find one of the 89 examples Praga plans to build and assuming they don't mind explaining to their friends that their new supercar comes from the same country that gave us Škoda and the defenestration of Prague. The fact that it nearly matched the lap time of a 1,140-horsepower hybrid hypercar while producing just 700 horsepower proves that sometimes, getting the basics right matters more than having the biggest numbers. What makes this achievement even more remarkable is that the lap was set by Ben Collins - the former Stig himself - driving on road tires without any modifications to the car. He simply showed up, put on his race suit, warmed up the tires, and proceeded to embarrass some of the most expensive automotive machinery ever created. It's the automotive equivalent of a village cricket team beating England at Lords - technically possible but so unlikely that nobody saw it coming. Praga Bohema: engineering philosophy and weight advantage The Bohema's success stems from Praga's ruthless commitment to the fundamental principles of performance car design: make it light, make it aerodynamically efficient, and don't add unnecessary complications. At under 2,300 pounds, the Bohema weighs roughly half what most modern supercars tip the scales at, proving that the relentless pursuit of lightness can overcome significant power disadvantages. While other manufacturers add more cylinders, more turbos, and more hybrid systems, Praga has simply removed everything that isn't essential for going fast. The twin-turbocharged 3.8-liter V6 engine is borrowed from the Nissan GT-R, which immediately tells you something about Praga's approach to engineering. Rather than developing an entirely new powerplant and spending years perfecting it, they've taken a proven, reliable engine and modified it with bespoke turbos, a dry sump system, and a titanium exhaust. The result is 700 horsepower and 535 lb-ft of torque sent through a six-speed sequential gearbox - adequate rather than overwhelming power figures that work perfectly with the car's lightweight philosophy. The aerodynamics tell an even more compelling story. The Bohema can generate up to 1,984 pounds of downforce at 155 mph, which means that at high speeds, the car is essentially pressing itself into the track with nearly as much force as it weighs. This level of aerodynamic efficiency doesn't happen by accident; it requires the sort of wind tunnel development and computational fluid dynamics work that major manufacturers spend millions perfecting. The fact that a relatively small Czech company has achieved these results suggests either remarkable engineering talent or a very generous budget. The 0-62 mph time of under three seconds and 197 mph top speed are impressive but not extraordinary by modern supercar standards. What's extraordinary is achieving these figures while maintaining the sort of power-to-weight ratio and aerodynamic efficiency that allows the car to lap circuits faster than machines with significantly more power. It's proof that supercar performance isn't just about headline figures - it's about the integration of every system working in harmony. Praga Bohema: Top Gear Test Track performance and production plans The 1:09.8 lap time around the Top Gear Test Track places the Bohema in genuinely elite company. To put this achievement in perspective, this Czech supercar from a company most people haven't heard of has just outpaced virtually every production car that's ever attempted the circuit. The only faster car with internal combustion remains the Aston Martin Valkyrie at 1:09.7, and that's a 1,140-horsepower hybrid that costs several times more and was developed with Formula 1 technology. Ben Collins's involvement as both test driver and lap record setter adds credibility to the achievement. As the former Stig, Collins has driven virtually every significant performance car of the last two decades around this exact circuit. His ability to extract maximum performance from different vehicles is legendary, which means the Bohema's lap time reflects genuine capability rather than favorable conditions or driver unfamiliarity with the car. When Collins says a car is fast, you believe him. The fact that the record was set on road tires without any modifications to the production car demonstrates that customers will receive exactly the same performance capability demonstrated during the record run. This isn't a case of manufacturers setting records with prototype vehicles that bear little resemblance to what customers actually receive. The Bohema that lapped the Top Gear Test Track is the same specification that will be delivered to the 89 fortunate customers who manage to secure one. Praga's production plans reflect their understanding of the boutique supercar market. With only 89 examples planned for global production, the Bohema joins the ranks of genuinely exclusive hypercars while maintaining a focus on driving experience rather than investment potential. The company, founded in 1907, brings more than a century of engineering experience to their first modern supercar, suggesting this isn't a vanity project but a serious attempt to create something genuinely special. The decision to build just 89 examples ensures that Bohema ownership will remain genuinely exclusive while allowing Praga to maintain the sort of quality control that hand-built supercars require. Each car can receive individual attention during assembly, ensuring that the engineering excellence demonstrated by the Top Gear lap record is maintained across the entire production run. For customers attending this year's Goodwood Festival of Speed, Praga will deliver three more Bohemas, including the first to reach a US owner. This represents not just the arrival of a new supercar, but the emergence of a new player in the hypercar market that's chosen performance over pedigree and engineering excellence over established reputation. The Praga Bohema proves that the supercar world still has room for genuine surprises, and that sometimes the most impressive achievements come from the most unexpected sources.
