Inside the lightweight Czech sportscar making its mark on the UK

Ahead of Praga running its own standalone series in partnership with Britcar, Autosport got behind the wheel of the Czech company’s R1 at Donington – and was left very impressed

I’m in this little-known closed-top sportscar, hammering around Donington Park, overtaking Porsche 911s and McLaren supercars like they’re Nissan Micras being driven by doddery pensioners.

I’ve enjoyed myself so much that I’ve hung around hoping for an extra run in the car. When it finally comes, I gain the benefit of my brain auto-processing everything it learned in the morning. Now I’m beginning to join the dots properly – full gas through the Craner Curves, attack the Old Hairpin in fourth gear, getting into a flow of sorts. Clear laps are hard to come by – but when one does, I’m lapping the Grand Prix loop in well under 90 seconds.